Old Navajo or Pueblo Necklace of 5 Strands Natural Mediterranean Coral

Years ago, the renowned Native American artist Gail Bird explained that natural coral is such a valuable material to Navajo and Pueblo people that some keep strands of old coral in shoeboxes, initially received as inheritance and now held as a treasured investment. Whereas some Americans might check their retirement statements from Merrill Lynch, some Native Americans can instead open those shoe boxes and run strands of this rare and elegant material through their hands.

This enchanting five strand coral necklace is a vestige of the days when fine natural Mediterranean coral was more readily available in the American Southwest. Either Navajo or Pueblo made, the necklace is strung with coral tubes, more red than orange on the color spectrum, slightly graduated in size and occasionally interspersed with handmade silver beads. 

What it lacks in wow factor it makes up for in soul. It's a piece of jewelry that will mean more to you than those who see it on you. Most significantly, with it around your neck, you'll begin to understand just why these rare strands of old coral mean so much to so many Native people.

The necklace hangs 13.5" down and it's strung on its original natural fiber wrap.