Diné Six-Strand Coral and Heishi Necklace [SOLD]

This six-strand coral and heishi necklace was most likely created by a Diné artist.  Were it held in place by a “pueblo wrap”, we’d attribute it to a Kewa artist, but the silverwork used here suggests Diné origin.

The Navajo Nation necklace is made of a beautiful combination of coral and heishi.  The heishi begins after the silver clasps, extending down to just above the necklace’s midpoint.  It varies in tone from white to tan.  The rich, highly polished red coral covers the rest of the piece.  There are six strands altogether, but each is relatively thin, so the piece, as a whole, feels elegant and well-balanced.

The use of coral for decoration goes back 30,000 years to the stone age, when ancient man used it to decorate burials. Coral jewelry was made by Egyptians, the Mesopotamian culture, and the ancient Greeks. According to Greek legend, coral is seaweed that was turned red by the blood of Medusa after she was slain by the hero Perseus. The Greeks regarded coral as a powerful protector.

Native Americans began to use coral shortly after it was introduced to them by the Spanish in the sixteenth century. The red colored jewel intrigued them. Strands of deep red coral were valued and worn as a form of currency.  Today, coral is one of the most sought-after materials used by Native American artists.

Condition: excellent condition

Provenance: this Diné Six-Strand Coral and Heishi Necklace is from the collection of a client from Oklahoma

Recommended Reading: SOUTHWESTERN INDIAN JEWELRY Crafting New Traditions by Dexter Cirillo

Relative Links: SOUTHWEST INDIAN JEWELRY, DINÉ OF THE NAVAJO NATION, NECKLACES