Chunky Lapis with Silver Necklace Santo Domingo

Our Chunky Lapis with Silver Necklace Santo Domingo is a magnificent expression of museum-quality Kewa craftsmanship, handmade by the same renowned female artist whose work has been exhibited at the National Museum of the American Indian in New York. Saturated expanses of royal and midnight blue lapis are arranged in an architectural composition of hand-cut discs and substantial free-form tablets, culminating in a dramatic rectangular centerpiece. Hand-worked silver beads punctuate the lapis near the center, introducing flashes of cool metal against the extraordinary blue. The effect is sculptural, sophisticated, and unmistakably one of a kind. Lapis lazuli has been treasured for more than six millennia, with Afghanistan historically providing some of the world’s most celebrated material. It is actually a rock composed principally of blue lazurite alongside minerals including calcite and pyrite; those naturally occurring golden pyrite flecks visible throughout this necklace give the stone its almost celestial depth. Rich, highly saturated blue is particularly prized, and substantial pieces with beautiful color become increasingly impressive when enough compatible material must be selected for an entire necklace. What immediately distinguishes this piece is its chunky, hand-cut construction. The larger lapis elements are not standardized factory beads: each must be considered individually, then cut, drilled, ground, smoothed, and polished while preserving enough stone to achieve its bold scale. Smaller lapis discs create rhythm between the sculptural tablets, while handmade silver elements frame the centerpiece. Grinding, drilling, polishing, and stringing are techniques documented in historic Kewa necklaces in the National Museum of the American Indian, including examples incorporating lapis lazuli. The variations in shape, pyrite, and surface pattern are precisely what make this necklace impossible to duplicate. Jean Marie loves patronizing this remarkable artist, particularly because she creates only a limited number of these labor-intensive pieces. She values the opportunity to commission and select jewelry directly from an artisan working at such an extraordinary level, understanding the time and material knowledge each necklace represents. Here, Jean Marie was captivated by the commanding scale of the lapis and the unexpected elegance of the silver. Museum-quality, entirely handmade, and singular in character, it is less simply a necklace than a piece of wearable sculpture, an heirloom celebrating both an ancient material and the enduring artistry of Santo Domingo Pueblo. Made in New Mexico, USA Length 18" Weight 65 gr