Vintage Five Strand Coral Necklace with Handmade Silver and Turquoise Beads [SOLD]

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 protection.

Today, coral is one of the most sought-after materials used by Native American artists. This five-strand necklace is a beautiful example of how elegant the sea stone can be. The Santo Domingo Pueblo (now Kewa Pueblo) artist strung beads of coral that had been drilled and shaped to a smooth, uniform diameter. Interspersed between the coral are handmade silver and turquoise beads. The addition of the silver and turquoise beads adds a unique look to the necklace. The strands are bound together Pueblo style, identifying it as being made at Kewa Pueblo.

Condition: The Vintage Five Strand Coral Necklace with Handmade Silver and Turquoise Beads is in excellent condition. It is wrapped securely and hangs gracefully.

Provenance: The necklace belonged to a long time Southwest Indian Jewelry collector from Colorado

Recommended Reading: Indian Jewelry of the American Southwest by William Turnbaugh