Native American Fine Art and Jewelry

Santo Domingo (Kewa) Spiny Oyster, Turquoise, and Jet Earrings by Joe Calabaza

$145

Artist: Joe Calabaza
Style: Mosaic Drop Earrings
Pueblo: Santo Domingo (Kewa), NM
Materials: Spiny Oyster, Turquoise, Jet, and Sterling Silver
Size: 1.125” W x 2.5” H
Item: #4202

Categories: , ,

In stock

Description

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

Celebrate the rich, vibrant heritage of Pueblo artistry with these striking handcrafted Santo Domingo (Kewa) mosaic inlay earrings by Joe Calabaza. These elegant pieces showcase a masterful, colorful arrangement of premium natural materials, featuring the fiery orange-red hues of spiny oyster shell beautifully contrasted against vibrant blue turquoise and deep, bold black jet. Each individual stone and shell is meticulously hand-cut, flawlessly fitted together into a seamless mosaic, and polished to a smooth, glass-like finish. The vibrant inlay is expertly crafted to be both visually breathtaking and lightweight, making these earrings perfectly balanced and comfortable for everyday wear.

The Santo Domingo Pueblo (officially recognized today as Kewa Pueblo) is world-renowned for its exceptional stone-cutting and traditional mosaic inlay techniques, a legacy that traces directly back to their ancient ancestors in Chaco Canyon. Respected Kewa artisans like Joe Calabaza continue this time-honored tradition by working with the very same materials their predecessors did. The pairing of Southwestern turquoise with spiny oyster shell—a material historically acquired through vast, ancient Native American trade routes reaching all the way to the Gulf of California—makes this not just a beautiful piece of jewelry, but a wearable story of Indigenous history and enduring craftsmanship.

About The Artist

Joe R. Calabaza and his wife, Valerie F. Calabaza, are esteemed Native American jewelry artists from Kewa Pueblo (Santo Domingo Pueblo) in New Mexico. Joe was born and raised in Kewa Pueblo by his parents, Joseph F. and Mary Ann Calabaza, who taught him the foundational crafts of traditional Pueblo jewelry making.

The Calabaza family is widely renowned for their exquisite, super-fine heishe work, a meticulous and historic bead-making technique. Hand-cutting and shaping organic materials, Joe creates breathtaking heishe jewelry using natural stones such as turquoise, serpentine, black jet, and pipestone. Beyond his signature beadwork, Joe is also a master of intricate inlay mosaic and traditional silver and metalwork, allowing him to create a diverse range of authentic Southwestern jewelry.

More About this Artist

About the 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.