J460 Navajo Cluster Pin
Seventy-one Sleeping Beauty turquoise petit point stones set in sterling silver around one round stone in the center. The pin is made up of four sections divided by twisted wire. The outer edge is trimmed in silver raindrops. A loop is on the back of the 3 3/4” pin so it may be also worn as a pendant.
Petit point is an oval stone ground to a fine point on one end and rounded on the opposite end.
Many of the older pieces have a hallmark of “IH” (“Indian Handmade”) or “IHSS” “Indian Handmade Sterling Silver.”
The Sleeping Beauty mine is located near Globe, Arizona. Its turquoise is noted for its solid, light blue color with no matrix. Sleeping Beauty turquoise is the favorite of the Zuni Pueblo silversmiths for use in petit point, needlepoint, and inlay jewelry. This mine is one of the largest in North America and was still operating until August 2012.
