Federico Jimenez-Turn of the Century Oaxaca "YALALAG" Cross-Vintage Red Trade Beads/Chunky Sterling Beaded Squash Blossom Necklace-About 31"
Federico Jimenez-Turn of the Century Oaxaca "YALALAG" Cross-Vintage Red Trade Beads/Chunky Sterling Beaded Squash Blossom Necklace-About 31"
THE OAXACA 'YALALAG CROSS":
The Yalalag cross is a particular style of Christian cross made in Yalalag, Oaxaca, Mexico. These crosses are generally made of heavy, dark coin silver,while others are made with sterling.. There are many variations on the basic design, where various subjects that hang from the terminals. They vary in length from 2 to 6 inches & local women wear the crosses on strings of beads and pendants with birds or pomegranates.(Squash Blossoms, like this one)
This particular cross has been made in Yalalag since at least the sixteenth century. They have an undetermined origin; similar crosses are worn in Spain, and the design is thought to have been brought to the area by Dominican missionaries who converted the local native population to Christianity. The traditional Yalalag cross originated in Salamanca, Spain and was brought to Mexico by the friars during the colonial period. Over time, the indigenous Oaxacan silversmiths adapted the design and incorporated their own personal styles and elements.
Over time the cross lost its Spanish character and became a Mexican object made by the local natives. Its design predates the conquest of the area by the Spanish. The women of Yalalag are known to have worn triple crosses when they encountered Hernando Cortes' soldiers and priests during their ventures in the area. The priests incorrectly concluded that Christian missionaries had preceded them
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VINTAGE RED TRADE BEADS:
I was told by Federico that these red beads are much older than the 19th century red Venetian white heart beads that are used in his necklaces which are shipped via the Ivory Coast in Africa.(click on 'Necklaces")
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THE NECKLACE:
This Oaxaca necklace reaps nothing less than a culturally rich & very undeniable look of Oaxaca..Thoughtfully put together with the lengthy turn of the century era Oaxaca Yalalag cross, are old hand made-chunky size sterling beads, old pomegranate sterling squash blossom beads & extremely old, red vintage trade beads.
If you love any & all things "Oaxaca" while proudly wearing a necklace with a historical past, then this is a necklace you can wear with pride!
ARTIST: FEDERICO JIMENEZ
WEARABLE LENGTH: 24" (LENGTH IS TAKEN WITHOUT CROSS LENGTH)
TOTAL NECKLACE LENGTH: ABOUT 31" (WITH CROSS)
VINTAGE YALALAG CROSS SIZE: 6-3/4" X 3-3/8" (INCLUDING THE BEADS ABOVE THE CROSS)
CROSS ALONE: 5.25" X 3-3/8"(WITHOUT BEAD CONNECTOR AT TOP)
LARGE SQUASH BLOSSOM AMOUNT: 10
SMALLER SQUASH BLOSSOM AMOUNT: 6
LARGE SQUASH BLOSSOM SIZE: 1.25"- BEAD SIZE ON THESE: 15 MM
SMALL SQUASH BLOSSOM SIZE: 1"- BEAD SIZE ON THESE: 11 MM
WEIGHT:8.3 OUNCES ( 236 GRAMS)
METAL:STERLING BEADS-YALALAG CROSS: PROBABLY 800 SILVER
METAL FINISH: OXIDIZED-NATURALLY FORMED PATINA FROM TIME
STRAND AMOUNT: 1
CLOSURE : HOOK
HALLMARK:COMES WITH FEDERICO'S 'JF/STERLING' TAG
CONDITION: WELL KEPT VINTAGE CONDITION
Comes Gift boxed.
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SIGNATURE REQUIREMENT:
Anything with a high price tag, will have a mandatory signature confirmation requirement & will come insured (reflected in shipping price).. If you're not home in the day & need it shipped where it can be signed for,please change that in your "Ship To" section before I create the shipping label***I'm sorry if this may be an inconvenience, but I do not ship expensive pieces without one. This is for your safety & mine.
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PLEASE READ BEFORE PURCHASING:
To give you close up photos,pictures tend to make the item look much more larger & everything is more magnified than in actuality. .So to get an accurate idea of how big this is,please either check it out on the mannequin to get a rough idea (photo) or if you have a tape measure on hand, you can compare it o my given measurements
