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In early May 2006 we had a most pleasant initial contact with James and Doris Coriz. This husband and wife duo from Santa Domingo Pueblo makes very traditional jewelry in the Santo Domingo style consisting of turquoise and shell prepared by hand. They use the best stabilized Kingman turquoise and carefully selected shells which yield products which are characterized by perfect execution made from superior materials. We are delighted to have established this new source of classic Santo Domingo jewelry made in the old way.
James and Doris call this the "Fantail" necklace. The reference, of course is to the radiating pointy tabs of spiny oyster which appear as sharp as the spines on an agave. Their rich red-orange color renders the hand-turned beads of Kingman turquoise even bluer. The double-strand aspect of this necklace makes it more than a regular strand, while the sleek line of the smooth strands and handmade look make this something you could wear with just a t-shirt. Dress it up, dress it down; when you're dealing with this quality of beadmaking and stringing, wear it however you like and it will feel good.
While a necklace like this may look large and imposing, consider that the circumference around the inside strand is only 22" This means that the necklace will feel like a 22-inch strand in the wearing, though it will have more relative weight and hug your body. After all, when the total length of handmade Kingman beads is added up in the double strands, it yields 32 inches of hand-turned turquoise beads. These beads originate from a large, rough rock of stabilized Kingman turquoise and the beads are wholly handmade. From the continuity of color to the beads, it's apparent that all the beads were cut from the same "rough" at one time.
The spiny oyster tabs are whittled to a point on the ends, but the shell was not overly processed or polished. Pitting on the orange part of the shell tells from whence these shell spikes came; it's a nice reminder of the sea. So also the Mediterranean red coral (which terminates the necklace at Sterling beads and cones) dramatically complements the rich blue Arizona turquoise beads and offers counterpoint in this necklace of stone and shell, desert and sea.
Kingman disk beads: 1/8" to 3/8" diameter; 1/16" to 1/8" running length
Spiked spiny oyster tabs: 1 1/2" to 1 3/4" long; 5/16" wide
Length: 22" + fantail
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