etched flower mandala necklace with kingman turquoise

This one-of-a-kind design features a hand-cut brass flower, comprised of three individual layers of brass, which I hand-etched with an intricate flower mandala design. I hand-cut and curled some of the petals up to create dimension around a polished Kingman turquoise cabochon. The 12.5 inch long brass chain allows the pendant to rest perfectly upon the chest. This is an eye-catching necklace, is perfect for layering and can easily be dressed up or down. Perhaps the oldest stone in man’s history, turquoise is the talisman of kings, shamans, and warriors. The name Turquoise is derived from the French, pierre turquoise, meaning “Turkish stone,” because the trade routes that brought Turquoise to Europe from the mines in central Asia went through Turkey, and Venetian merchants often purchased the stone in Turkish bazaars. For thousands of years, Turquoise has spanned all cultures, prized as a symbol of wisdom, nobility and the power of immortality. Among the Ancient Egyptians, Persians and Chinese, Aztecs and Incas of South America, and Native North Americans, Turquoise was sacred in its adornment and for power, luck, and protection. For nearly a thousand years, Native Americans have mined and fashioned Turquoise, using it to guard their burial sites. Indian priests wore it in ceremonies when calling upon the great spirit of the sky. Many honored Turquoise as the universal stone, believing their minds would become one with the universe when wearing it.