1950s Santo Domingo Pueblo Royston Turquoise Nugget & Shell Heishi Necklace View Watchlist >
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Lot # HJ128
System ID # 23896873
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3 Watching
1950s Santo Domingo Pueblo Royston Turquoise Nugget & Shell Heishi Necklace
A mid-20th century Santo Domingo Pueblo necklace featuring thirty-one natural turquoise nuggets interspersed with hand-rolled shell heishi beads. The turquoise displays rich blue-green tones with golden-brown matrix, characteristics consistent with Royston mine material from Nevada. The nuggets retain their organic, rough-cut form rather than being shaped into slabs or tab beads, giving the necklace a powerful and naturalistic presence. A traditional handmade hook clasp completes the strand.
The creation of heishi—the oldest form of jewelry in North America—requires painstaking handwork, with each shell bead individually cut, drilled, and polished. Santo Domingo (Kewa) artisans are regarded as the premier beadmakers of the Southwest, and this necklace exemplifies that heritage. The contrast between the polished rhythm of the shell discs and the raw, elemental texture of the turquoise reflects the Pueblo aesthetic of balancing refinement with the natural beauty of the stone.
This necklace comes from a collection of fine Native American jewelry acquired in New Mexico between the 1950s and the late 1990s, and it represents a classic example of Santo Domingo Pueblo artistry from the mid-20th century.
Details
- Santo Domingo (Kewa Pueblo), New Mexico
- Date: 1950s era
- Materials: Natural turquoise nuggets (likely Royston, Nevada), hand-rolled shell heishi beads
- Components: (31) rough-cut turquoise nuggets, approx. 5 mm heishi beads
- Closure: Traditional handmade hook clasp
Dimensions & Specifications
- Length: 25 in. (63.5 cm)
- Weight: 96.1 g (3.39 oz)
- Largest nugget: 29.61 × 16.71 × 7.29 mm
- Smallest nugget: 15.36 × 17.48 × 5.9 mm
Condition
Good condition. Turquoise retains natural surfaces with visible matrix; shell beads intact and smooth. Light wear consistent with age and hand-crafted origin.
Conclusion
A fine Santo Domingo Pueblo necklace from the 1950s, distinguished by Royston turquoise nuggets and traditional shell heishi beadwork—an authentic and desirable example of mid-century Pueblo craftsmanship.
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