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SKU: 5236-22

Santo Domingo Pueblo Heishi and Turquoise Bead Necklace

Late 20th Century

30.5" L with 15.25" Total Drop

Hand Crafted with 10 Strands and 2 Sterling Silver Cones and Chain with Hook and Eye Enclosure

In Very Good Condition

A Santo Domingo Heishi and Turquoise Bead Necklace is a traditional piece of Native American jewelry crafted by artisans from the Santo Domingo (Kewa) Pueblo, located 25 miles southwest of Santa Fe, New Mexico. These necklaces are renowned for their hand-rolled heishi beads, a hallmark of Santo Domingo craftsmanship, combined with turquoise, a gemstone deeply valued in Native American culture for its beauty and spiritual significance.
The term "heishi" means "shell" in the Keresan language of the Santo Domingo Pueblo. Traditionally, heishi beads are small, flat, disc-shaped beads made from shells (like olivella or spiny oyster) or gemstones, including turquoise, coral, or jet. The beads are meticulously cut, drilled, and polished by hand or with modern tools to achieve a smooth, uniform shape. This technique dates back centuries, with similar styles found at ancestral Puebloan sites like Chaco Canyon and Mesa Verde, making it one of the oldest forms of jewelry in New Mexico.

Condition: Very Good

Tribe: Kewa - (Santo Domingo)

Year Range: 1975 - 2000

Region: Southwest

Dimensions: 30.5 in15.25 in

Category: Necklace - Fetish - Heishi - Tab - Jacla - Bead

Shipping

U.S. Shipping: One Flat Rate Per Order

Every U.S. order is packed in-house at our gallery and ships insured via USPS or UPS, with signature required on delivery. You pay one flat rate for the whole order, never per item:

  • Fetishes: $8
  • Jewelry & Pottery: $15
  • All other pieces: $20

Buying from more than one category? You only pay the highest rate in your cart, so eight fetishes and a pair of earrings ship together for just $15.

Oversized Pieces

Large or heavy pieces, such as big pottery, baskets, rugs and framed art, are custom-packed and shipped at actual cost. As a guide, that's anything needing a box larger than 12" × 12" × 12" or weighing over 5 lbs. At checkout, choose Oversized – Shipping Invoiced Separately and we'll email your shipping invoice, usually within 24 hours. Contact us for an estimate before you buy.

International

International orders are welcome! We quote international shipping separately and invoice the actual postage after purchase. Contact us beforehand if you'd like an estimate.