Orange and Red Spiny Oyster Necklace Santo Domingo

Our Orange and Red Spiny Oyster Necklace Santo Domingo is a radiant expression of artistry, heritage, and the natural beauty of the sea. Handcrafted by our esteemed female Santo Domingo Pueblo (Kewa Pueblo) artist, whose work is featured in the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture in New York, this necklace embodies the mastery and spirit that define true museum-quality craftsmanship.

Each bead is individually hand-cut and polished from natural spiny oyster shell, prized for its vivid color variations ranging from deep coral red to warm sunlit orange. Harvested from the coastal waters of Baja and the Sea of Cortez, spiny oyster shell is not only stunning but also meaningful. For generations, it has symbolized life, vitality, and renewal, connecting the desert artisans of the Southwest to the rhythms of the ocean.

The necklace’s graceful strand showcases the subtle gradations of color that make spiny oyster so special, glowing with a fiery radiance that captures light and warmth. Creating such even, delicate heishi beads from this naturally ridged shell requires remarkable patience and skill, an art form perfected over centuries by the Santo Domingo people.

This piece was made especially for Pax Philomena, a collaboration born from deep mutual respect and admiration. Jean Marie personally commissioned this necklace from the artist, inspired by the way its colors evoke both sunset and flame,  symbols of transformation and endurance.

Our Orange and Red Spiny Oyster Necklace Santo Domingo is more than jewelry; it is a celebration of life and craftsmanship, of tradition and beauty intertwined. Elegant on its own or layered for a bolder look, it carries the warmth of the sun and the story of the hands that shaped it, a timeless testament to the enduring artistry of the Southwest.

Necklace Length: 23"

Bead size: 4.5 mm

Weight: 18 g / 0.6 oz

Made in USA