Arizona Historical Silver Mexican Fire Opal Concho Necklace
$9500.00 $5000.00
I have a deep family history in Arizona, my Great, Grand Uncle and Aunt came to Tucson in the early 1870’s. L.C. Hughes served as a City Council Member of Tucson, Pima County Attorney, Arizona Territorial Attorney General and Territorial Governor. This necklace belonged to my Great, Grand Aunt, Josephine Brawley Hughes. She is known as a pioneer woman and was involved in a lot of firsts for Arizona. My Great, Grandmother, Josephine’s sister came and lived with them in Tucson and my Grandmother was named after her Aunt Josephine. My grandmother ended up with the necklace, given to her by her Aunt. Because I had a great love of our history and service to Arizona, upon her death, I was given the necklace. I was told it had been gifted to my great aunt by their counterparts from Mexico. The Necklace is hand crafted out of silver and has four Mexican Fire Opals set in the Conchos. It is signed by ”John J” however I have not been able to find him noted in any of the silversmiths trademarks. Likely long forgotten by now. If you understand the history of Mexico and Arizona, in dealing with the Apache, you’ll know why the stones are Opals and not Turquoise. Turquoise is sacred to the Apache and during the time period this was presented to my relative, the Apache were the enemy and likely recently subdued and it would have been in bad taste, at a minimum, to present this to those who lived through this era as they did. I have no documents noting the history of this necklace other than what I had been told by both my Grandmother and mother, both who have passed on. Josephine Brawley Hughes was elected to the Arizona Woman’s Historical Society as a Pioneer woman and mother of education and champion of women’s right and suffrage. The Color photo shows my mother receiving the recognition at a ceremonial presentation with Governor Rose Mofford. Standing to my mother’s left is my Father, Founder and Chief of Golder Ranch Fire District, my sister and at the end is myself, a serving Arizona State Highway Patrol Officer. The photo was taken in 1990. Photos of my Great, Grand Aunt and Uncle and here are a couple of links explaining their history. I will include a notarized letter stating how I received the necklace and its origins. For more pictures go to; https://www.gunbroker.com/item/901857569
https://azmemory.azlibrary.gov/digital/collection/acmterr/id/21/
