NATIVE AMERICAN KEWA MELON SHELL TURQUOISE NECKLACE LUPE LOVATO

Amazing color combination! Kewa artist Lupe Lovato hand crafted this gorgeous necklace out of Turquoise and Melon Shell. Traditionally made by hand cutting, drilling, rolling, and stringing. Weighs 60 grams. A timeless beauty that you will enjoy for years to come. No Hallmarks 3/16″ to 13/16″ wide 20” long Artist card included Kewa (Santo Domingo) artists are known for their heishi. The word “heishi“ means “shell” in the Keresan language. Traditionally Santo Domingo jewelry makers created their heishi jewelry out of shell. The shell is hand cut into a flat disc. Today, other stones that Santo Domingo artists cut in this manner, are also referred to as heishi. With modern tools and innovations, artists can create different styles of beads and use different gemstones like turquoise, coral, jet, serpentine, and spiny oyster.