Spiny Oyster Bead Dangle Earring by Louise Joe, Navajo

Spiny Oyster Shell Dangle EarringDetails:Artist: Louise Joe, NavajoLength: 2" + 1/2" hook - 2 1/2" overall lengthWidth: 1" at widestMaterials: Spiny Oyster ShellCondition: New What is Spiny Oyster Shell? The material called, "Spiny Oyster," used by Native American artists to make inlays in fine jewelry, comes from the shell of the bivalve mossusk, Spondylus varius. The genus' scientific name, "Spondylus,'' means "spines in its back." The most commonly used colors include orange, reds, and purples and may include distinct striations and color variations.  In the American Oceans, the Spiny Oyster occurs along the North American coasts, as far north as North Carolina, on the Atlantic Coast, and northwestern Mexico, on the Pacific Coast. It develops in waters to South America. The Orange Spiny Oyster occurs in shallow to moderately deep waters, where snorkelers and scuba divers readily harvest them. Purple Spiny Oysters grow in deeper water, making them more difficult to find and harvest.