Adobe Gallery Blog

Kewa (Santo Domingo) Pueblo Three-strand Shell Hieshe Necklace - C3864.46

Category: Jewelry | Posted by Adobe Gallery Team Member | Thu, Jan 12th 2017, 5:12pm

Kewa Pueblo Jewelry C3864.46Kewa (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.  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.

 

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