Vintage BLUE & GREEN TURQUOISE SANTO DOMINGO PUEBLO Heishi Bead Choker 14-1/2\"

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Vintage BLUE & GREEN TURQUOISE SANTO DOMINGO PUEBLO Heishi Bead Choker 14-1/2\":
$24.50

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This is a vintage hand-rolled blue and green turquoise heishi bead necklace in the Santa Domingo Native American style. The graduated size turquoise beadsmeasureabout 3/16\"to 1/4\" in diameter with silver tube beads at each end with a hook and eye silver closure. The beads are strung on woven wire, possibly re-strung since cotton string is fragile with age, making the necklace very sturdy and unbreakable. The necklace is from the estate of a New Mexico retiree who loved and collected Native Americana in the 1970 - 1980\'s. Although I don\'t know the exact age of the piece, it would be at least 35-45 years old.
Heishi originated with theSanto Domingo and San Felipe Pueblo Indians of New Mexico. That\'s why many people refer to this type of jewelry asSanto Domingojewelry.Heishi means shell and in the past, referred to pieces of shell that have been drilled and hand rolled or ground into bead shapes and strung as necklaces. With the reduced availability of some shell materials, the modern Native American artists also use hand made beads of other natural materials includingstoneswhen making heishi necklaces.Heishi beads are made by slicing the shell or stone into uniform strips. Then the pieces are nipped into small squares. Each square then has a hole drilled in it. The squares are strung, each material being strung in a separate group. The strings of squares are smoothed and rounded by grinding and rolling the beads. Once the beads have reached the rough ground round stage, they are ready for sanding. The beads are smoothed and shaped using sandpaper. The string of finished material is washed and dried in the sun. Then they are polished on a leather belt.

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Vintage BLUE & GREEN TURQUOISE SANTO DOMINGO PUEBLO Heishi Bead Choker 14-1/2\":
$24.50