Pueblo Heishi Necklace

Pueblo Heishi glass bead necklace with coral. Pueblo, Mid-20th century. A stunning necklace comprised of cotton threads strung with hundreds of tiny heishi glass beads, with one side longer than the other. Both bundles of threads attach to sterling silver cylindrical caps, from which a lightly polished piece of coral is suspended from eyelets. The terminal ends of the cotton strands are wrapped in cotton thread and coated with a light layer of wax to prevent fraying. This "Pueblo wrap" style finish provides added comfort against the wearer's skin, particularly during dancing, by eliminating irritation from metal hooks or clasps that could rub against the neck or catch in the hair. When worn with the wrapped area at the nape of the neck, the coral sits off-center, a common design element in Pueblo necklaces featuring asymmetrical beading - though the use of coral is particularly distinctive. Size of strand doubled: 36" L; coral: 4.5" L x 0.6" W