Vintage Necklace 18" Turquoise Nugget & Olive Shell Heishi Sterling Hook & Eye

Description

The early Native Americans mined turquoise and made turquoise beads and necklaces.  Turquoise bead jewelry has been a long tradition in the Native American culture.  Beautiful turquoise nuggets
combine with authentic handmade olive shell heishi to become this old traditional necklace.
Olive shells are mollusks found mostly in warm tropical seas. These snails are carnivorous sand-burrowers, feeding mostly on bivalves and carrion and are known as some of the fastest burrowers among snails. An olive shell is smooth, and oval-shaped with various muted but attractive colors, and often patterns.
The olive shell heishi, although smooth and of uniform consistency, will have variations among the heishi. There will be a variation in color and thickness or there might be a slight
imperfection in the shell or bead. This adds to its unique appearance.
This necklace is 18" long and has been strung on covered wire.
There are 2 bench made sterling beads and a hook and eye closure.
Never out of style, Southwest jewelry is an investment in enjoyment to last a lifetime.
Measures 18" long
Larger stones measure about 20 mm  x  7 mm
Graduates down to about 15 mm  x  5 mm
Heishi measures 5 mm  round
Total Weight = 100 grams
Questions???   Please ask before purchasing to avoid any misunderstandings.
You can see more Indian Jewelry in my eBay "Store".