Sterling Silver Kingman Turquoise & Brown Pen Shell Necklace - 30 #008

Characteristics

Mined in the Mineral Park district of northwestern Arizona, Kingman is among the most storied and prolific turquoise sources in the American Southwest. Its signature bright, sky-blue color — often laced with black, brown, or silvery pyrite matrix — has made it a benchmark stone for Native American silversmiths for generations, and "Kingman blue" remains a standard against which other turquoise is judged.

Heritage

The Rio Grande's bead and mosaic masters — Kewa heishi and inlay traditions older than silver itself, hand-rolled from turquoise, shell, and jet.

Art Traditions

For the Kewa, jewelry-making is both a livelihood and an inheritance carried within families across many generations. Children learn to drill, roll, grade, and string beside their elders, and the pueblo's reputation rests on a communal standard of excellence sustained over centuries. Kewa is also one of the most private and traditional of the pueblos, and its people guard their ceremonial life closely even as their jewelry travels the world. Kewa artisans are celebrated, too, for resourcefulness and adaptation — the Depression-era thunderbird necklaces stand as a testament to creativity under hardship, transforming whatever was available into objects of lasting beauty. That ingenuity, married to deep traditional skill, remains a point of pride and a hallmark of the pueblo's art. Kewa makers are a constant, respected presence at the Santa Fe Indian Market and other juried shows, where their strands are sought by collectors worldwide. Humiovi presents Kewa work as the product of this living, family-rooted tradition, honoring the makers and the centuries of skill behind every strand. Because Kewa is among the most private and traditional of the pueblos, much of its inner life is closed to outsiders, but its jewelry has long been the pueblo's open hand to the world — a way of sustaining families and carrying Kewa skill far beyond the Rio Grande. Every strand bought honors both the maker and the community that produced the maker.

Certificate of Authenticity

Every purchase includes a Certificate of Authenticity documenting the artist, tribal affiliation, and materials used in your piece.

Returns & Exchanges

Return within 30 days of delivery. Exchanges for an item of equal or greater value carry no restocking fee; refund returns are subject to a 20% restocking fee, with return shipping paid by you. Items must be in new, unworn, and unused condition with all original packaging — your Certificate of Authenticity is yours to keep. Custom and personalized pieces are not eligible.