CO208 Harpo necklace turquoise and shell

One of a Kind piece

Beautiful Pueblo necklace made of turquoise Heishi beads, with a beautiful spiny oyster shell inlaid of turquoise dots as the central pendant.

The spiny oyster is, as its name indicates, is a shell with many spikes. Here the artist has taken the care to remove each spike and inlay the location of a small touch of turquoise that fits perfectly in its. The whole is then polished and creates a beautiful central pendant with beautiful orange and blue contrasts.

The making of Heishi beads is an ancient, time consuming and meticulous technique in which the Pueblo Kewa excel: the raw turquoise is first cut, drilled and threaded on a wire, then sanded on a grinding wheel to form the Heishi beads. After which these beads are spun: in this case on a thin string.
 

This necklace is a wonderful example of early Native jewelry techniques, before silver was introduced to the American Southwest.

Shell size (L x W) : 8,6cm x 2cm (3 inches 3/8 x 0.3/4 inch)

Diameter of the Heishi beads: 7mm

Length of the strings of Heishi beads: 45,5cm (18 inches)

Total length including string: 89cm (35 inches : allowing for easy double knotting) 

Proudly Pueblo handmade in the USA.