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.