Four-Strand Bird Fetish Necklace
Artist
Chris Montoya
Artist
Ely Montoya
Date2004
Mediumsilver, turquoise, heishe, linen cord
Dimensions15 3/4 × 5 × 1/4 in. (40 × 12.7 × 0.6 cm)
ClassificationsJewelry & Adornment
Credit LineAlbuquerque Museum, gift of Eason Eige
Object numberPC2010.7.78
DescriptionA four-strand Bird Fetish necklace of silver, turquoise, heishe, and linen cord. Featuring a drove of hand-carved turquoise birds with drilled eyes, this four-strand necklace is replete with numerous heishi and corn kernel-shaped tabs, also made of turquoise. Kewa artists Chris and Ely Montoya learned their talents growing up in Santo Domingo Pueblo, which is located between Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico, and is the leading producer of heishi (Keresan for “shell”)—a term used to describe flat, circular beads made of any natural material, including turquoise.On View
Not on view
