Now in his mid-thirties, Chris Nieto is one of the finest beadmakers at Santo Domingo Pueblo and has no peer in the realm of mosaic inlay work. His work can be found at the Wheelwright Museum in Santa Fe, he exhibits at the widely renowned art shows at the Heard Museum in Phoenix and is a well-respected citizen of Santo Domingo Pueblo where he is very active in religious and ceremonial affairs. He is a kind and generous man who has become a close friend through our years of working together. His wife, Luwanna, often aids him by stringing his necklaces.

This choker-length necklace consists of six strands of stacked, handmade beads of Pennsylvania jet heavily sprinkled with multi-colored beads of many materials. These handmade jet beads are light as a feather and yield a rich necklace that manages to be basic black and every other color of the rainbow. Chris added chip beads of Kingman turquoise (blue & green), lapis lazuli, apple coral, red, orange & purple spiny oyster and green serpentine throughout the strands. Each of the strands is slightly different in length and this causes the strands to stack one upon the another rendering the necklace fuller and richer. The beads are strung on very finely braided steel wire which is sleeved by polyurethane. This lends shape to the strands and the polyurethane coating on the braided wire allows the beads to slide smoothly on the strands while preventing the steel wire from chipping or wearing the beads. The strands are gathered inside the Sterling cones and the necklace closure is a handmade heavy-gauge Sterling hook and eye which are sturdy and reliable.

Jet beads: 3/16" to 5/16" diameter; 1/32" to 1/8" thick

Weight: 2.5 ounces

Length: 18 1/2"