Native American Fine Art and Jewelry

Santo Domingo (Kewa) Polished Turquoise Necklace by Sophie Tenorio-Benall

$1,595

Artist: Unknown
Style: Necklace
Pueblo: Santo Domingo
Period: Contemporary
Materials: Polished Santo Domingo Turquoise and Sterling Silver
Length: 20″
Item: #3074

In stock

Description

Traditional handmade Native American Indian Jewelry from Indigenous Pueblos of the Southwest. Guaranteed authentic. Excellent condition.

Add a touch of vibrant, natural beauty to your wardrobe with this handcrafted single-strand turquoise necklace by Kewa artisan Sophie Tenorio-Benall. This piece features a stunning array of hand-polished turquoise beads, carefully graduated to create a graceful, comfortable drape. The stones showcase a vivid sky-blue to deep-teal color palette, beautifully accented by a dark, earthy matrix that highlights their natural origin. Finished with traditional sterling silver cones and a durable closure, this necklace offers a sleek and modern interpretation of historic Pueblo lapidary traditions.

Kewa (Santo Domingo) jewelry is world-renowned for its emphasis on the raw, unadorned beauty of natural stones and shells. Sophie Tenorio-Benall is celebrated for her meticulous eye for color and her ability to hand-shape and polish stones into elegant, uniform beads while retaining their organic character. In the Kewa tradition, turquoise represents water, sky, and renewal—carrying a deep cultural significance that has remained a cornerstone of Pueblo life for over a millennium. Authentic pieces like this are highly sought after by collectors who value clean craftsmanship and the enduring legacy of Southwestern stone-cutting.

About The Artist

This stunning hand-cut and polished turquoise was made by Santo Domingo artist Sophie Tenorio-Benally, who made jewelry all her life but didn’t start selling it until she retired from a 33-year career working in a pharmacy. From a Santa Fe New Mexican article about Tenorio-Benally: “As a kid, Sophie Tenorio Benally resented having to drill and cut turquoise after she finished her chores. Looking back, she said, ‘My dad was getting me ready for life’. The Santo Domingo Pueblo jeweler…said the work she once resented is a joy now. ‘I get up early just to work on it.…It makes me want to teach my grandkids’.”

More About The Artist

Pueblo

The Santo Domingo Pueblo, also known as Kewa, is a Native American community located in northern New Mexico, near the Rio Grande River. Known for its rich cultural heritage, the pueblo has a history that spans over 1,000 years. The Santo Domingo people are famous for their intricate pottery, vibrant textiles, and unique turquoise and silver jewelry. Their artisans are particularly renowned for creating striking mosaic-style jewelry using tiny pieces of turquoise, coral, and shell. The Santo Domingo Pueblo maintains strong traditions and a deep connection to their ancestral lands, with a focus on community, spirituality, and preserving their culture.