Vintage Pawn Necklace 26" Turquoise Nugget & Olive Shell Heishi Sterling Beads

Description

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 shell surface is extremely glossy because in life it almost always is covered and protected by a mantle.
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 26" long and has been strung on flexible wire.  There are two round sterling bench made beads and 2 melon sterling beads.  I've never seen melon beads like these,  there is a pattern on them.
I suspect this necklace is from the 1950's or 1960's or even older.
Never out of style, Southwest jewelry is an investment in enjoyment to last a lifetime.
Measures 26" long
Olive Heishi measures 3 mm  round
Total Weight = 50 grams
Questions???   Please ask before purchasing to avoid any misunderstandings.
You can see more Indian Jewelry in my eBay "Store".
Coins for display only.  Not included not for sale.