Photograph by Addison Doty. Copyright 2015 School for Advanced Research.
Necklace
Date: before 1928
Artist or Maker: Unknown
Dimensions:
37.5 cm (14 3/4 in.)
Medium: jet | silver
Credit Line: Indian Arts Fund purchase for the permanent collection, 1928.
Place Made:
Valencia County, New Mexico, Southwest, United States, North America
Object Number: IAF.S801
Not on view
Tribal Collection Review RemarksAccording to the participants in the Acoma collection review visit April 22-24, 2015 (Events Record “Collection Review: Acoma Pueblo, Review 1”): The string used for this necklace is black and coated in wax. The beads are all hand drilled. Pearl Valdo mentioned there is a type of waxed string used for beading.
Acoma was known as the only local source for jet. The mine is now extinct with only very small traces left. A Navajo man named Gus Keene married into Acoma around this time and was teaching adult education classes for jewelry making. Najas may be an influence from him. There were several men at Acoma who were making jet jewelry. Some jewelry also included abalone shell inlay. Pearl’s father made jewelry with jet and he also did bead work. Jet jewelry from Acoma is no longer being produced.
In Collection(s)
The Indian Arts Research Center, in collaboration with Native American community scholars, strives to present accurate collections records. Records may be updated as new information becomes available and is reviewed with the Native American community having cultural affinity to particular items. Please write to iarc@sarsf.org if you have questions or concerns related to the documentation.