{"product_id":"orange-spiny-oyster-and-white-clam-shell-necklace-santo-domingo","title":"Orange Spiny Oyster and White Clam Shell Necklace Santo Domingo","description":"\u003cp\u003eOur Orange Spiny Oyster and White Clam Shell Necklace Santo Domingo is a luminous expression of Kewa artistry, handcrafted by a talented female Santo Domingo artisan and commissioned exclusively for our Pax Philomena collection. Multiple graceful strands combine glowing orange spiny oyster with finely worked white clam shell, accented by unexpected flashes of turquoise. The contrast is striking: warm coral and tangerine tones against soft ivory, with turquoise appearing like small fragments of Southwestern sky. The result feels joyful, sophisticated, and unmistakably handmade.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe craftsmanship lies in the centuries-old heishi tradition for which Santo Domingo, or Kewa Pueblo, is renowned. Shell must first be cut into small blanks, individually drilled, strung, then patiently ground, smoothed, and polished until hundreds of separate pieces begin to flow together as a harmonious strand. Spiny oyster, from the \u003cem\u003eSpondylus\u003c\/em\u003e family of marine shells, has long been prized in Southwestern jewelry for its extraordinary natural range of orange, coral, red, and purple. White clam shell offers a beautiful counterpoint, its creamy surface bringing lightness and rhythm to the composition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe apparent ease of this necklace disguises an enormous amount of handwork. Each irregular orange disc retains subtle differences in shape, thickness, and coloration, while the fine white shell beads create a quieter visual cadence near the neckline. Tiny turquoise accents punctuate the strands without overwhelming them. These variations are not imperfections; they are evidence of the human hand and of natural materials being shaped one bead at a time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur founder, Jean Marie, commissioned this necklace as part of Pax Philomena’s ongoing commitment to exceptional Native American craftsmanship. Her appreciation began long before the company was founded. Growing up in the American Southwest, her mother, Philomena, often took her to the Pueblo communities of New Mexico, where Jean Marie first encountered the extraordinary work of Native jewelers. Those childhood visits sparked a lifelong admiration for Indigenous artistry and a deep respect for the people who continue these demanding traditions today. That passion remains woven into Pax Philomena itself, making this necklace not simply an accessory, but a celebration of friendship, heritage, and living craftsmanship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMade in New Mexico, USA.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLength 18\" from nape of neck\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFour strands\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"PAX PHILOMENA","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67828686946623,"sku":"ORNGSPINYWHTCLAMSHELLSDOMINGONECKLACE","price":525.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2529\/6354\/files\/Ivory_Terracotta_andTurquoiseLayeredNecklace.png?v=1792609474","url":"https:\/\/paxphilomena.com\/products\/orange-spiny-oyster-and-white-clam-shell-necklace-santo-domingo","provider":"PAX PHILOMENA","version":"1.0","type":"link"}