Besides belt buckles (yes, I have other interests ), I also have an affinity for vintage naja pendants. These little rascals are harder to find than you would think. Oh, they’re plentiful on squash blossom and beaded necklaces, but finding a lone naja with some age on it can be somewhat challenging.
Last summer, I was visiting with John C. Hill in his gallery in Old Town Scottsdale. He said vintage naja pendants are his quickest selling item. He then said, “Good luck finding one. Everybody wants them. Heck, I’m looking for them too.”
Below are my only two najas. I wear them inconspicuously under my shirt for my enjoyment and you know, to “ward off the evil eye”, which apparently works because I haven’t been attacked by squirrels or had any recent encounters with baby spit up - the most evil act of all.
If you have any najas you would like to share, lone or on a necklace, feel free to post them.
Purchased at Garland’s in 1995, 1 1/2” x 1 1/4”, coin silver (tested), ca. 1960s
The Number 8 turquoise mine is in the Lynn mining district in Eureka County, Nevada and was active from the early 1920s to 1976. The color of Number 8 varies from light blue, blue with shades of green to beautiful dark blue. It is found with a black, golden, red or brown matrix. The classic look of Number 8 turquoise is light blue with a golden brown spiderweb matrix. High-grade Number 8 turquoise is by far some of the finest to ever have come out of Nevada. - Durango Silver Company
Well, darn it. Now you’ve made me think I have to look for something else for my jewelry collection (especially if they would ward off coffee spills)
Seriously though, those are gorgeous. I like them on both the leather cord and the silver link chain. I prob wouldn’t wear a full squash, but the Naja alone would be easier.
@TAH Your 2 naja pendants are wonderful! I especially like the one with turquoise. My 1/2 Sicilian self totally understands about warding off the evil eye, lol. I can relate to the challenge of finding lone najas. I luv naja pins. Boy Howdy, are they tough to come by. I only own one. Thanks for sharing your naja affinity with us.
I also have been attracted to the simple Naja form for years. These are a few lone najas I’ve picked up over the years, some older, some more contemporary. Thanks for bringing up this topic…Your are fabulous! I also wear mine on Navajo handmade chains. I Love that you display yours on a basket…I need to photograph mine that way😁.
From left to right:
Row 1: Ira Custer, unmarked, D. begay.
Row 2: Small Naja, Harrison Bitsoi
Row 3: Alvin Thompson, Eugene S. Mitchell, Ambrose Lincoln.
Row 4: unmarked, unmarked, Mary Cayatineto
What a great topic! I’m half Egyptian, so the evil eye protection speaks to me! Most of my najas are components of squash blossom necklaces, but I do own this detachable one that lives on a string of beads (maybe I’ll start a topic on silver beads sometime, talk about a can of worms). Occasionally, I wear it layered with the khamsas I’ve picked up over the years or a series of carnelians carved with Qur’anic verses, so I guess I’m doubling (tripling, quadrupling) the protection! Given the history of the naja form and its origins in North Africa, wearing it with Islamic material feels apropos.
Thanks all! And now we know why lone najas are so scarce…(@Bmpdvm) Very nice collection, Bmp! I’m zeroing in on the middle naja, bottom row. Love the fine, delicate hands and green stone.
@riobravo Beautiful necklace! I tend to lean more towards simplicity, so I’m diggin’ this one.
What a great collection @Bmpdvm! My sights are set on the small double pattern by Harrison Bitsoi, as well as the middle example in the bottom row. As @TAH points out, the fine, intricate hands are beautiful, as is the stone. Thank you for sharing!
@riobravo, this is fabulous. For me, the old adage, “less is more” applies here, as I personally prefer more simplified, earlier designs, and this definitely has it going on!
@Ziacat, thank you for sharing the Reggie Mitchell naja. I really enjoy the double pattern design, and this contains elements of some of the earlier, more dated examples, my kind of thing!
Beautiful examples and a fun thread idea. I love the solo naja look, partly inspired by meeting a prominent dealer years ago (still is today) who, when I met her, had on a huge old naja on a simple cord, of all the things she could personally choose to wear.
Three in my collection: John Begay of the White Hogan, Navajo, a modernist take on the naja on tiny handmade silver beads, date unknown. I’ve had it a long time. I discovered years later that Kenneth Begay’s granddaughter Debbie Silversmith does earrings and other pieces very much like this swirly form.
Your collection is wonderful @chicfarmer. I’m really liking the entire package of your ca. 30’s piece. The beads look hefty and the naja is constructed in such a neat way, beautiful stone as well!
@chicfarmer: Three Great pieces!!! I agree, the swirl concept as applied to a Naja really works and adds unique appeal; I love it…droolworthy😄. Of course, you know I love anything by Cippy/ Waddie! It’s interesting, of all of Cippy’s najas I’ve seen, there do not appear to be 2 alike (I could be wrong). Your final Naja is lovely and appealing with the beautiful round cab and beautifully crafted twisted wire. And Wowza…those beads; wonderful!!!
As I said, it’s wonderful to see the wide variety of najas…interesting and fun topic!
Three beautiful najas from the minds of three different artists! I always gravitate to the oldies, so the 1930s set has my attention. Although, that Begay piece is lovely and quite hypnotizing.
Classy, beautiful pieces, but then I wouldn’t expect anything less from you The first one in particular is lovely - I don’t think I would have recognized it as a naja. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Zia.
It’s my interpretation of the intention, imagining a White Hogan Navajo smith inspired by the past while considering a bold, U-shaped form as a pendant. Maybe more correct to say it’s naja adjacent.
), I also have an affinity for vintage naja pendants. These little rascals are harder to find than you would think. Oh, they’re plentiful on squash blossom and beaded necklaces, but finding a lone naja with some age on it can be somewhat challenging.
(especially if they would ward off coffee spills)
The first one in particular is lovely - I don’t think I would have recognized it as a naja. Thanks for sharing!
