Kewa Pueblo Seashell Necklace with Mosaic Overlay [SOLD]

This Kewa Pueblo Seashell Necklace with Mosaic Overlay is one of several seashell pendants we received from the estate of a former client of ours. The seashells were similarly overlaid in mosaic fashion with turquoise and other materials. Each of the shells was drilled at the top for attaching a sinew string for making the shell into a necklace. None of the seashells had been converted yet into a necklace. We secured the assistance of Laguna Pueblo artist Carol Gala who specializes in beadwork to provide the materials to make each wearable. This necklace is the result of her efforts. She added colorful beads to the sinew, which are removable should one wish to do so.

The turquoise was cut into squares and set in mosaic fashion.  The cream triangles are believed to be bone, the black ones are jet, and the hemispheres are mother of pearl.

Since before the arrival of the Spaniards, seashells have been used as body bandoliers, as beads on clothing, as items tied around legs to make sounds when dancing, and for making jewelry, such as this shell overlaid with beautiful mosaic gemstones.

Condition: this Kewa Pueblo Seashell Necklace with Mosaic Overlay is in very good condition

Provenance: this Kewa Pueblo Seashell Necklace Embellished with Gemstones is from the estate of a client from Maryland

Recommended Reading: North American Indian Jewelry and Adornment: From Prehistory to the Present by Margaret Dubin

Relative Links: Southwest Indian Jewelry, Santo Domingo Pueblo - Kewa, Necklaces, Carol Gala, Laguna Pueblo