ABOUT MARTINE:

I came across numerous award winner Martine Lovato's work about 3-4 years ago,while walking through Santa Fe's Indian Market.Since then I became close with the family & especially his niece Reyes Pacheco & her husband Farrell,who by the way,he took under his wing & passed on all his years of knowledge.

What impressed me was the fact that he is one who still cuts everything by hand,as well as the fact of how his pieces are made with impeccable precision.His work is so exact & just by looking at the overall workmanship of each piece,it is highly obvious this man has been doing this for years..He is considered one of the best from the Kewa Pueblo & is considered a "Master Artist" for obvious reasons & if you ever get your hands on his work,this will be validated..Martine is also the brother to the well known older "Lupe Lovato",who is the Chief to the Santo Domingo Pueblo.

DESCRIPTION:

These super sized earrings are made in a statement size Santa Fe style!

Made of natural Kingman turquoise that Martine took from a larger rock & then hand snipped each piece that were then mosaic'd onto epoxy & then attached to the brown Pin Shell backing.They are laid with a deliberate irregularity & are not meant to be perfect.

These rectangular shape earrings are made with a contemporary 21st century Pueblo look,while maintaining ancestral techniques.If you took away the sterling ear buttons & wire,the mosaic part has a very primitive Cliff Dweller/Pueblo sort of appearance that were being designed in the years 900-1300 AD.

A 1.5" cut of orange Spiny Oyster shell is cut by Martine & then placed in the center that compliments the blue turquoise,by adding to the overall design. If you look at the last photo,the backside is just as attractive in the way these were made! Martine used 2 cuts of the Oyster shell & if the earring was to turn for example,it will still look attractive.They have a 4.2 mm thickness & beveled edges.

They are a weightier earring(Weights below) & if you can wear them,they are definitely worth it!You can't,nor will ever go wrong with anything Martine makes! He is not called a "Master Jeweler" for nothing!

These will go with any SW collection or look!!

**Please check out Martine's neice "Reyes Pacheco" & his nephew-in law "Farrell Pacheco's" jewelry& who have now taken home 3- 1st Place in "Best of Class" at the 2018 & 2020 Santa Fe's Indian Market! (Click on their name under “Woman’s Jewelry-Earrings 1 & Earrings 3)**