Heishi Multi color Unisex Surfers Necklace

Description

My Heishi is genuine and comes from New Mexico. More info on Heishi below.

Double strung uniform Heishi necklace accented by glass metallic seed beads and silver beads; a great necklace to pair with jeans, wear at the beach or basically any color outfit due to the unique colors in the Heishi.

Great Unisex necklace.

The heishi stones I used are made from seashells, oysters, mother-of-pearl, coral and melon shell. Stones: lapis, turquoise, jet, pipestone and serpentine, sodalite and turquoise.

Dimensions: 18.5 inch length with silver plated toggle closure.

What is Heishi?
The literal meaning of heishi is "shell" and specifically refers to pieces of shell which have been drilled and ground into beads and then strung into necklaces. More and more frequently, however, heishi (pronounced hee-shee) has come to refer to hand-made tiny beads made of any natural material.

The origin of heishi is linked to the ancient history of the people most proficient in its making, the Santo Domingo and San Felipe Pueblo Indians. It is safe to say that this is the oldest form of jewelry in New Mexico (and perhaps in North America), pre-dating the introduction of metals. Centuries ago, the shells used by the Pueblo Indians to make beads were obtained in trade from the Gulf of California.

A string of good heishi will have a uniform consistency. If you gently pull it through your hand, it should feel like a single serpent-like piece. (Note: Precisely because of the handwork involved, a fine string of heishi may contain a slightly flawed or chipped individual bead.)

Added on Nov 28, 2009