There are squash blossoms that decorate an outfit, and then there are squash blossoms that seem to carry the gravity of a landscape.
This monumental vintage necklace by Phillip Tso belongs firmly in the second category. From the moment you lift it into your hands, it feels less like jewelry and more like a masterwork of Navajo silversmithing—a piece built to be remembered.
Every element has been executed with remarkable restraint and confidence. Thick hand-formed silver frames cradle vivid natural turquoise, each stone chosen for its bright sky-blue color and lively matrix. Rather than overwhelming the eye, the generous silver allows each cabochon room to breathe, creating a rhythm that carries your gaze naturally toward the commanding double-rail naja.
Phillip Tso is celebrated for creating bold, impeccably balanced Navajo jewelry that honors traditional forms while embracing a distinctly sculptural presence. His work is recognized for substantial silver construction, elegant proportions, and beautifully selected turquoise. Collectors prize his pieces because they possess both visual power and exceptional wearability.
The naja is the undeniable centerpiece. Forged with sweeping double silver rails and crowned by a striking turquoise arrangement, it balances strength with elegance. Each blossom echoes the form of the naja, terminating in carefully fabricated silver drops that create movement and light without ever distracting from the overall composition.
Equally impressive are the handmade Navajo pearl strands, whose graduated forms provide both visual weight and remarkable comfort. Every transition—from bead to blossom, blossom to naja—feels deliberate, revealing the hand of an experienced master silversmith.
This is the sort of necklace that doesn’t simply complete a collection—it becomes one of the defining pieces within it.
Details
- Artist: Phillip Tso
- Tribe: Navajo (Diné)
- Materials: Sterling silver and natural turquoise
- Construction: Hand-fabricated squash blossom with handmade Navajo pearls
- Design: Traditional blossom motif with monumental double-rail naja
- Condition: Excellent vintage condition with beautiful natural patina
- Collector Appeal: Significant statement work by a highly respected contemporary Navajo silversmith
Eric’s Notes from the Field
Every now and then, you find a piece that reminds you why the squash blossom became one of the great icons of American jewelry.
This isn’t flashy. It doesn’t rely on giant stones or excessive ornamentation. Its strength comes from proportion, craftsmanship, and confidence. Phillip Tso understood that if every line is right and every stone is chosen with intention, the silver does the talking.
If I were curating a museum case called The Modern Masters of Navajo Silver, this is exactly the kind of necklace I’d want representing the tradition—timeless, powerful, and impossible to walk past.
There are squash blossoms that decorate an outfit, and then there are squash blossoms that seem to carry the gravity of a landscape.
This monumental vintage necklace by Phillip Tso belongs firmly in the second category. From the moment you lift it into your hands, it feels less like jewelry and more like a masterwork of Navajo silversmithing—a piece built to be remembered.
Every element has been executed with remarkable restraint and confidence. Thick hand-formed silver frames cradle vivid natural turquoise, each stone chosen for its bright sky-blue color and lively matrix. Rather than overwhelming the eye, the generous silver allows each cabochon room to breathe, creating a rhythm that carries your gaze naturally toward the commanding double-rail naja.
Phillip Tso is celebrated for creating bold, impeccably balanced Navajo jewelry that honors traditional forms while embracing a distinctly sculptural presence. His work is recognized for substantial silver construction, elegant proportions, and beautifully selected turquoise. Collectors prize his pieces because they possess both visual power and exceptional wearability.
The naja is the undeniable centerpiece. Forged with sweeping double silver rails and crowned by a striking turquoise arrangement, it balances strength with elegance. Each blossom echoes the form of the naja, terminating in carefully fabricated silver drops that create movement and light without ever distracting from the overall composition.
Equally impressive are the handmade Navajo pearl strands, whose graduated forms provide both visual weight and remarkable comfort. Every transition—from bead to blossom, blossom to naja—feels deliberate, revealing the hand of an experienced master silversmith.
This is the sort of necklace that doesn’t simply complete a collection—it becomes one of the defining pieces within it.
Details
- Artist: Phillip Tso
- Tribe: Navajo (Diné)
- Materials: Sterling silver and natural turquoise
- Construction: Hand-fabricated squash blossom with handmade Navajo pearls
- Design: Traditional blossom motif with monumental double-rail naja
- Condition: Excellent vintage condition with beautiful natural patina
- Collector Appeal: Significant statement work by a highly respected contemporary Navajo silversmith
Eric’s Notes from the Field
Every now and then, you find a piece that reminds you why the squash blossom became one of the great icons of American jewelry.
This isn’t flashy. It doesn’t rely on giant stones or excessive ornamentation. Its strength comes from proportion, craftsmanship, and confidence. Phillip Tso understood that if every line is right and every stone is chosen with intention, the silver does the talking.
If I were curating a museum case called The Modern Masters of Navajo Silver, this is exactly the kind of necklace I’d want representing the tradition—timeless, powerful, and impossible to walk past.
