Item #865E- Vintage Navajo Turquoise Coral Shell Beaded Jacla
Item #865E- Vintage Navajo Turquoise Coral Shell Beaded Jacla
Beautiful large vintage Kewa/Santo Domingo/Navajo turquoise jaclas. The artist has handcut and drilled the turquoise heishi discs in a graduating size pattern adding cut and drilled coral sticks at top and a row of four (4) mother of pearl hand cut and drilled "corn kernels" across the bottom. All strung on cotton twine and tied together. In the past the jaclas were mainly made by kewa/Santo domingo tribal artisans and traded to our tribes. Over time the jaclas have become associated with Navajo necklaces. Jaclas were originally used as earrings and when the woman would stop wearing the earring they would drape the jaclas over the necklace to store them. As the desire for jaclas became apparent, may versions were made, some of which were built into the necklaces.