Is this a beetle or June bug or something else? Is there any way of telling which insect it is? Do y’all think it is Navajo? Just trying to figure out what it might symbolize. image|375x500
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It symbolizes “really cute pin for the tourist trade.” I love these vintage Navajo insect pins. I’ve seen them sold as a bug, insect, beetle, flying beetle, and fly. I guess an entomologist would make the distinction according to number of legs, but resellers take liberty.
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I am a sucker for insect jewelry! Gotta love those bugs! Btw all insects have 6 legs. Spiders have 8. Sorry, I couldn’t help myself! I really do like bugs. When I find them in the house, I always relocate instead of kill. The only exception to my rule are cockroaches. Poor cockroaches!
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That’s adorable and I love the raised wings! I agree, the NA bug pins are really cute. Going to guess a house fly.
Here’s an ant, for comparison:
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Oh my! It’s adorable. Now I am on the lookout for an ant!
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@chris it was my grandmother’s. Now I’m inspired to look for insect pins and see what’s out there!
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I love that! It looks so creepy with the long legs and fangs. My spider has much shorter legs, and I am almost certain his abdomen is glass. But, I still love him.
My grandmother was my inspiration for collecting jewelry. I used to play in her treasure chest shaped jewelry box every time I went to see her. It was full of all marvelous sorts of costume jewelry! I now have several pieces of her turquoise as well!
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It is interesting to see that even though these bug and spider pins may be considered tourist jewelry, the styles are still quite varied. So maybe not so much of a mass-made tourist item.
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This is a corn beetle
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Yeah, tourist isn’t all drop press material, can still involve an individual Navajo artisan employee.
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Awww, it’s a grasshopper! I think.
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Relocating bugs? I lived in New Orleans for 3 years. Their state symbol is the cockroach.
I hear you. I lived in Houston for 15 years. I have no love for the cockroach or mosquitoes.
I bought this tiny bug brooch recently from a seller here in Canada. And it came on the original card!
Underneath the words Sterling Silver, there is a poem and some additional wording, which I will share in case anyone has trouble making it out:
Precious Sterling Silver bug,
Touched with turquoise hue.
Enchant miladys pretty frock,
And bring her good luck too.[Bell Trading symbol]
MADE IN U.S.A. BY AMERICAN CRAFTSMEN
I found a webpage about Bell Trading that asserts “the ‘Arrow post hanging bell sign’ was first used in 1961”. If true, then this can’t be older than the 1960s.
The pin itself is about 1" long and unmarked.
I think it’s cute as a, well, bug … but I was also charmed by the card and how it was originally marketed. So grateful this wasn’t lost after the original owner bought it!
P.S. Closeup of the little guy:
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