Inv# MC10W.1903

Authenticity Guarantee:  10-strand ivory white clam shell heishi necklace hand-strung & hand-wrapped with traditional ‘Pueblo-wrap’ style neck loop, by Kewa Native American necklace artist, Mary Coriz, in 2019 Total length: 36.5“. Weight: 297 grams.

Description.  Sadly, Kewa artisan Mary Coriz passed away in 2021. She was a renowned Pueblo artisan for creating her unique & superb, white heishi shell, 10-strand necklaces like this one, with the traditional “Pueblo-wrap” neck loop. In recent years, Mary produced only a limited number of her famous necklaces, which became rare on the market even before her passing in 2021. In 2019, pre-Covid, we commissioned 5 of these necklaces from Mary & consider it a privilege that she created them for us in 2019. This necklace is 1 of those. It has never been sold or worn by anyone prior to this, so it is indeed a rare and beautiful Mary Coriz “original”. With deep respect for Mary, her family & the Kewa people, we offer this beautiful, rare Mary Coriz necklace to donate 100% of our profit in honor of Mary.

It’s total length is 36.5 ”, with approx. 12.5” long Pueblo wrap neck loop, with approximately 24” of Ivory-white clam shell heishi beads on each strand.  Heishi beads are approximately 0.17>0.2” diameter, & thickness varies from 0.02” to 0.18”.  Each strand contains over 300 heishi beads, resulting in a total of over 3000 hand-strung heishi on the 10 strands!  Heishi beads are hand-strung on waxed carpet string and neck loop is hand-finished with a traditional ‘Pueblo-wrap’ of waxed carpet string approximately 0.2” diameter.  Clam shell heishi beads are generally circular, with minor shape and thickness imperfections due to natural shell characteristics and effects of heishi shell cutting, polishing and hole-drilling. 

Materials:  10-strand Ivory white clam shell heishi; ‘Pueblo-wrap’ neck loop of hand-wrapped waxed carpet string

Detailed Dimensions.  [Measurements are approximate, using a micrometer; there are minor variations inherent in hand-made jewelry and consistent with variations in natural materials.]

• End-to-end length:  36.5” includes 24” long 10-strand heishi  & 12.5” ‘Pueblo-wrap’ neck loop

• Clam shell heishi bead diameter: 0.17> 0.2”

• Clam shell heishi bead thickness: 0.02” > 0.18”

• Neck loop waxed string wrap diameter:  0.2”

Weight:  297 grams. Due to its lighter weight, this specific 10-strand necklace will not feel as heavy on-the-neck for smaller individuals.  Compare the heavy 416 gram weight of Inventory #MC10W.1901 to the weight of this lighter necklace.

Comments. Sadly, Kewa artisan Mary Coriz passed away in 2021. She was renowned as the Pueblo artisan producing superb, white heishi shell, 10-strand necklaces like this one, with the traditional “Pueblo-wrap” neck loop. In recent years, Mary produced only a limited number of her famous necklaces, which became rare on the market even before her passing in 2021. In 2019, pre-Covid, we commissioned 5 of these necklaces from Mary & consider it a privilege that she created them for us in 2019. This necklace is now a rare and beautiful Mary Coriz “original”. With deep respect for Mary, her family & the Kewa people, we offer this beautiful, rare Mary Coriz necklace to donate 100% of our profit in honor of Mary. In creating her unique & beautiful 10 strand white clam shell necklaces, Mary used skills and knowledge passed down over thousands of years by her Kewa ancestors. The skill and knowledge for finishing a necklace with the traditional ‘Pueblo-wrap’ neck loop is disappearing, and Mary was one of its skilled artisans. Our appreciation for Mary’s necklaces increases even more when we consider that she hand-strung over 300 tiny heishi beads on each of the 10 strands for a total of over 3000 heishi beads in the necklace.  Think about the time, patience & dedication required to do that and hand-wrap the neck loop with a traditional ‘Pueblo-wrap’.  Mary’s necklaces are one of Harriet’s favorite necklaces and make a dramatic appearance for both formal and informal occasions.

The jewelry market is now flooded with fake “American Indian” jewelry that in fact originates in foreign countries and is either hand-made in ‘sweat shops’ or mass-produced by machines in factories. Native American artists rely on sale of their unique art to support their families. So by purchasing one of Mary’s beautiful original necklaces, you help ensure preservation of the unique KEWA culture and artistic skills so they endure for many more generations.