Geronimo Necklace with Heishi beads

These Sterling silver, black jet, turquoise, and lapis heishi beads are mixed with white bone, bamboo coral, and small Thai silver bead accents. The necklace also has a beautiful silver and red coral inlay button closure. Heishe or heishi (pronounced "hee shee") are small disc- or tube-shaped beads made of organic shells or ground and polished stones. They were made by the Kewa Pueblo people (formerly Santo Domingo Pueblo) of New Mexico before they had metals to use in their jewelry creations. The literal meaning of heishi is "shell" and specifically refers to pieces of the shell that have been drilled and ground into beads and then strung into necklaces. Local artists handmade these in New Mexico; the chain length is 24".