A Pueblo Spiny Oyster Shell With Turquoise As Pendant

Item: 1605

Origin: Pueblo
Date: Historic –  unknown age

Media: Shell, turquoise

Dimensions: Shell – 2″ long, over all – 3 1/8″

Description: This is an unusual spiny oyster shell as a pendant.  It has inlaid turquoise – five round pieces, two large, three smaller.  There is a hole drilled at the top for suspension.  At the base of the shell is another hole drilled to receive the hanging copper disc which is suspended with hide.  This whole pendant shows wonderful patina from use.  The shell is likely prehistoric.  The turquoise may be original, or may have been added in the 19th century. The addition of the copper is assumed to be added later 19th c to early 20th c.  There are very few of these early shell decorated pieces to inspect or refer to.

Provenance: A private collection in Albuquerque.  This was collected in the 1960s and  came directly out of the Pueblo.

Condition:  Condition is original without restoration.

Price: 1550