North American Auction Company
Live Auction

Early October American Indian & Western Sale

Sat, Oct 3, 2020 11:00AM EDT
Lot 152

Navajo B. Lee Number 8 Turquoise & Silver Necklace

Estimate: $1,500 - $2,500

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $5
$50 $10
$100 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$25,000 $2,500
$100,000 $5,000
For your consideration is a gorgeous Navajo Native American Betta Lee Number 8 turquoise and sterling silver necklace. The Number Eight turquoise mine in Eureka County north of Carlin, Nevada was discovered in 1925 and first mined in 1929. At present, the mine is closed to turquoise mining; it is mined today for gold. The mine produced some of the largest nuggets of turquoise ever discovered. Almost all the turquoise produced is of the spider web type, with the matrix varying from golden brown to black. The stones are expertly set in a shadow box setting with twisted braided rope and hand stamped border. The back of the lowest pendant is stamped “Sterling” and “B.Lee” for Navajo artist Betta Lee. The necklace measures approximately 27” when unclasped.