THE ARTIST:

There's not a time that has ever gone by when Kewa Puebloan artist Warren Nieto & I have met & talked, that I haven't been proudly educated about Pueblo culture & their centuries old Anasazi New Mexico history.He'll take you back in time to where you get a timeline on how far back this style of jewelry actually began.There's not much about his culture that he doesn't know & can't tell you about & it's his Pueblo roots that go into each & every piece of jewelry he makes.Each piece will have a Puebloan story,a meaning & it's almost like he "paints these storys" about life in the Pueblo into his work...He is one of the most humble artisans I'm proud to know & whose jewelry I'm delighted to bring you!

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THE NECKLACE:

This necklace is a Puebloan piece of wearable art! Each & everything is done by the hands of Warren,from shaping the wide Mother of Pearl wings,to the mosaic inlaid array of colors for the abdomen,to the hand made bale to cutting the pen shell heishi beads.

The backside is just as interesting, where he incribed Pueblo symbols that are close to Warren's heart! On the abdomen's backside,you have the 'rain clouds' that feed the corn.Corn is essential to Pueblo life & this symbol represents all aspects to the Pueblo cultures well being(See photo 7 & 8) On the left side behind the wings is the 'Journey' of Life" symbol & on the right side is what looks like the "Pueblo Dragonfly" which is for "Hope & Prosperity".Also on the backside all the way at the top are "Kiva Steps" which you will find in almost everything Warren makes.

The abdomen has irregular cuts of stone & shell that are laid horizontally & if you look at photo 6 at the area between the wings, you'll see where it has turquoise chips & sterling wire that represents "Rain Clouds & Lighting Bolts".The art is mosaic inlaid atop of a pen shell backing..

The Dragonfly hangs on it's own hand made 'Bone" bale & because of the heishi size & the bale size makes it non- removable.The Dragonfly is then threaded through the transluscent brown color Pen Shell heishi that graduate in length & are topped off with sterling cones & comes with a 2-3/4" sterling extender chain,so you can adjust the length by putting the hook anywhere within the chain!

The matching Dragonfly Ring that's shown in last photo can be found in my listings