Kewa (Santo Domingo) Pueblo Turquoise and Shell Hieshe Necklace [SOLD]

Kewa, formerly Santo Domingo Pueblo, artisans have been known for decades for the fine hieshe necklaces they produce. It is a style they have made for their own use for a thousand or more years, long before they started into silverwork. Hieshe is made from sea shells and, in this necklace, some hieshe was made from turquoise.  The shells  are first cut into small square sections, drilled in the center, strung on wire or string, then sanded by hand, in an up and down stroke, until each one is round.  That sounds easy but is not.  It is important to exert the same pressure on every stroke to achieve hieshe of the same diameter when finished. 

This necklace is comprised of five strands of shell hieshe with turquoise hieshe interspersed throughout and, in one section, grouped together.  The 5 strands are secured together with woven waxed string strung together and secured at the ends.

Condition: very good condition

Recommended Reading:  Indian Jewelry of the American Southwest by Sarah Peabody & William A. Turnbaugh.  This book is currently not available from Adobe Gallery

Provenance:  from the collection of a woman from California