Four Strand Coral Necklace with Turquoise Hieshe [R]

The use of coral for decoration goes back 30,000 years to the stone age, when ancient man used it to decorate burials. Coral jewelry was made by Egyptians, the Mesopotamian culture and the ancient Greeks. According to Greek legend, coral is seaweed that was turned red by the blood of Medusa after she was slain by the hero Perseus. The Greeks regarded coral as a powerful protection.

Native Americans began to use coral shortly after it was introduced to them by the Spanish in the 16th Century. The red colored stone intrigued them. Strands of deep red coral were valued and worn as a form of currency.

Today, coral is one of the most sought-after materials used by Native American artists. This four-strand necklace is a beautiful example of how elegant the sea stone can be. The artist has strung beads of coral that have been drilled and shaped to a smooth, uniform shape. Three small beads of turquoise have been interspersed among the coral beads. The four strands are brought together by two sterling silver cones at the ends. The use of the silver cones most probably indicates the maker as Diné (Navajo), as Pueblo-made strands usually are  wrapped with string.

Condition: This Four Strand Coral Necklace with Turquoise Hieshe is in excellent condition

Provenance: From a Colorado collector

Recommended Reading: Navajo Jewelry: A legacy in Silver and Stone by Lois Jacka