Vtg Colonial Red Glass Beads & Coin 1898 Pendant Necklace Made In Guatemala

Vtg Colonial Red Glass Beads & Coin 1898 Pendant Necklace Made In Guatemala Silver Beads Birds And 4 People This one of a kind Guatemalan necklace is from our large collection of vintage jewelry. We purchased this necklace in Guatemala 1971. Fantastic folk art in a stunning presentation. The Mayans inhabited a large portion of what is now Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, and five states of Mexico: Yucatán, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, Campeche and Chiapas. It is called a "chachal"--Quiché for necklace--and they have been made by Mayan peoples since Colonial times. The pendants were often the same-- a coin or coins forming a center and bottom area, with two quetzal birds on either side, and milagros hanging off the bottom. The use of coins was seen as a form of wealth and prestige. The beads are traditionally made of red coral, or later pieces of red glass trade beads--this piece has both glass coral and red whiteheart trade beads. As with the coins, the red symbolizes wealth and also good luck. The beads are often separated by coins and or milagros; in this case, they are all milagros. Most chachales I've offered are from Guatemala or Chiapas, Mexico, and this piece is made with antique beads. These are low silver content; the pendant tested as coin silver, which is 800 or less. We know this piece was acquired in the 1970s, but identifying the exact age it was made, given the use of antique beads, is very hard to do. What I can tell you is that authentic chachal necklaces.