Mid-Century Modernist Navajo Sterling Silver & Turquoise Brooch

A substantial vintage Navajo pin brooch representing the mid-century modernist current that ran through Southwestern silversmithing in the 1950s–1970s — a period when Navajo artists absorbed broader American design influences without abandoning their own craft traditions. The result here is a piece that feels architectural and deliberate: folded ribbon elements rise at each corner in the angular, geometric spirit of mid-century American design, while the applied silver balls, rectangular bar accents, and precisely serrated bezel are unmistakably Navajo in execution.

At the center sits a large free-form turquoise cabochon measuring 17.25 mm × 35.2 mm — a pale, cool blue-green stone carrying both crisp dark matrix veining and lighter host rock mottling across its face. That layered character is consistent with Nevada turquoise from the Royston District, though mine attribution is unconfirmed. The stone is hard, stable, and secure in its setting, with an estimated weight of approximately 18 carats based on dimensions and specific gravity. The reverse carries a long bar-pin stem with a quality barrel safety catch. The piece is unmarked; no hallmark is visible, and individual artist attribution cannot be confirmed. At 14.8 grams of tested sterling silver, this is a serious brooch — the scale and presence of a collector's piece, not a tourist trinket.

CONDITION

Good overall, consistent with honest age and untouched originality. The silver carries a deep patina — oxidation is most pronounced on the back plate and between the architectural elements on the face. The turquoise is secure in its setting with no chips or cracks visible in the provided photos; the stone's color and matrix read cleanly at close inspection. The pin stem and barrel catch are intact and functional. Polishing is left to the buyer. Please review all photos carefully before bidding.

SPECIFICATIONS