Dance Shell Necklace
Date1994
Mediumturquoise, white clam shell, mother of pearl, jet, linen thread
Dimensions17 × 5 × 1 1/4 in. (43.2 × 12.7 × 3.2 cm)
ClassificationsJewelry & Adornment
Credit LineAlbuquerque Museum, gift of Eason Eige
Object numberPC2010.7.84
DescriptionA dance shell necklace of turquoise, white clam shell, mother of pearl, and jet on linen thread. Native to both freshwater and marine environments, white-shelled clams have a long history of being imported to the high-desert landscapes of the American Southwest for incorporation into traditional dance ceremony regalia. In this example by Kewa (Santa Domingo) artist Crucita Tenorio, the artist has suspended the shell from linen thread and affixed concentric bands of turquoise mosaic atop the perforated end of the clam shell. An additional band of alternating mother of pearl and black jet serve as a hem around the blue and blue-green stones, dividing it from the unadorned remainder of the clam shell. Carved white shell tabs have been perforated and strung on linen thread to create the necklace portion.On View
Not on view
