Santo Domingo Spiny Oyster and Green Turquoise Necklace by Joe Calabaza

Description Traditional handmade Native American Indian Jewelry from Indigenous Pueblos of the Southwest. Guaranteed authentic. Excellent condition. Elevate your collection with the vibrant textures of this handcrafted Santo Domingo (Kewa) single-strand necklace. Masterfully created by renowned artisan Joe Calabaza, this piece features a rhythmic progression of hand-polished green turquoise and fiery orange spiny oyster shell. The stones are meticulously graduated, with substantial center beads that taper elegantly toward the neckline, creating a graceful drape and a sophisticated profile. Each bead showcases the raw, natural beauty of the earth, from the rich, mossy greens and golden matrix of the turquoise to the intense, sunset hues of the shell. Finished with traditional sterling silver cones, this necklace is a striking testament to the technical precision of Pueblo stone-cutting. Joe Calabaza is a celebrated figure in the Kewa (Santo Domingo) community, an area world-renowned for its thousand-year history of bead-making and mosaic work. This specific combination of spiny oyster and turquoise is a classic Southwestern motif, historically representing the meeting of the “earth” and the “water.” Calabaza’s work is highly prized for its “seamless” feel, where each hand-ground bead transitions flawlessly to the next. By choosing a piece from such a distinguished maker, you are acquiring an authentic example of living history that bridges the ancient lapidary traditions of the Rio Grande with a refined, contemporary aesthetic.