Lupita Calabaza

Kewa Pueblo jeweler, Lupita Calabaza, used elements from the earth, sea, and sky to create these earrings.  At the top is black jet from the Earth, shimmering Mother of Pearl from the sea, turquoise the color of the sky, all inlaid onto shells the color of burnt orange.  There is a sterling silver turquoise strip below the inlaid stones.  They dangle from sterling silver wires.

Size: 2.25" H (includes wires) x 1" W

The people of Kewa Pueblo in New Mexico have been making these types of earrings for hundreds of years.  They would chip out the stone and shape it by rubbing it on sandstone for many hours and use tree pitch as an adhesive.  The shells were traded for by people living along the Sea of Cortez.

Kewa Pueblo jeweler, Lupita Calabaza, made this hand-rolled necklace of lovely sea foam green turquoise.  Lightweight with a sterling silver hook and eye clasp.

Two Sizes: 22" L x 19.25" L

Hand-rolled beads are made by chipping out pieces of stone or shell.  A hole is drilled into the center of each chip.  The chips are strung on a wire and rolled, and rolled, and rolled until they are all the same width.  Sometimes they are graduated – a difficult task!  They are then polished until smooth.  There are hand-rolled necklaces from Kewa Pueblo that are over a thousand years old.  In the “old days”, the holes were drilled with a hand-pump drill, strung on handmade string, and rolled on sandstone.   There is nothing quite like hand-rolled Kewa beads!

Many of the Pueblos in New Mexico took on Spanish names after colonization and are now taking back their original names.  Kewa Pueblo is the traditional name of the place and the people.  It was known as Santo Domingo Pueblo for many, many years.

Lupita Calabaza created these stunning traditional Kewa Pueblo mosaic inlay earrings.  The stones are apple coral, jet, and turquoise, inlaid on to jet.  They dangle from sterling silver wires.  More about mosaic inlay below.

Size: 2" H (includes wires) x .75" W

Jewelers from Kewa Pueblo have been creating mosaic inlay jewelry for over a thousand years.  Some of the ancient Kewa jewelry can seem quite modern in their designs.  The stones, and/or shell, are cut into shapes which are then put together like a puzzle on a backing.  The backing can be shell, jet, or other materials like records or sheets of plastic which was done during times when materials were hard to come by.  Prior to colonization and the use of metals in Native American jewelry making, earrings were hung on handmade string.

Many of the Pueblos in New Mexico took on Spanish names after colonization and are now taking back their original names.  Kewa Pueblo is the traditional name of the place and the people.  It was known as Santo Domingo Pueblo for many, many years.

These Kewa Pueblo mosaic earrings were made by Lupita Calabaza.  Turquoise, Mother of Pearl, jet, and spiny oyster shell are inlaid onto the backs of jet.  They dangle from sterling silver wires.  More about Kewa Pueblo mosaic inlay below.

Size: 2" H (includes wires) x .5" W

Jewelers from Kewa Pueblo have been creating mosaic inlay jewelry for over a thousand years.  Some of the ancient Kewa jewelry can seem quite modern in their designs.  The stones, and/or shell, are cut into shapes which are then put together like a puzzle on a backing.  The backing can be shell, jet, or other materials like records or sheets of plastic which was used during times when materials were hard to come by.  Prior to colonization and the use of metals in Native American jewelry making, the earrings were hung on handmade string.

Many of the Pueblos in New Mexico took on Spanish names after colonization and are now taking back their original names.  Kewa Pueblo is the traditional name of the place and the people.  It was known as Santo Domingo Pueblo for many, many years.

Kewa Pueblo jeweler, Lupita Calabaza, inlaid natural sky blue turquoise and shimmering abalone onto orange shells.  A narrow bar of sterling silver lies underneath the turquoise and abalone.  A perfect blend of sky and water.  They dangle from sterling silver wires.

Size: 2.25" H x 1" W - includes wires

The people of Kewa Pueblo in New Mexico have been making these types of earrings for hundreds of years.  They would chip out the stone and shape it by rubbing it on sandstone for many hours and use tree pitch as an adhesive.  The shells were traded for by people living along the Sea of Cortez.

We love the richness of this inlaid turquoise on shell!  Kewa Pueblo jeweler Lupita Calabaza set a strip of sterling silver at the bottom of the mosaic inlaid turquoise.  They dangle from sterling silver wires.  More about Kewa mosaic inlay below. 

Size: 2.25" H (includes wires) x 1" W

Jewelers from Kewa Pueblo have been creating mosaic inlay jewelry for over a thousand years.  Some of the ancient Kewa jewelry can seem quite modern in their designs.  The stones, and/or shell, are cut into shapes which are then put together like a puzzle on a backing.  The backing can be shell, jet, or other materials like records or sheets of plastic which was used during times when materials were hard to come by.  Prior to colonization and the use of metals in Native American jewelry making, the earrings were hung on handmade string.

Many of the Pueblos in New Mexico took on Spanish names after colonization and are now taking back their original names.  Kewa Pueblo is the traditional name of the place and the people.  It was known as Santo Domingo Pueblo for many, many years.

Kewa jeweler Lupita Calabaza made these striking earrings with bright blue turquoise, apple coral, Mother of Pearl and jet.  The stones are inlaid onto jet backs.  More about Kewa Pueblo stone mosaic jewelry below.

Size: 2" H (includes wires) x .5" W

Jewelers from Kewa Pueblo have been creating mosaic inlay jewelry for over a thousand years.  Some of the ancient Kewa jewelry can seem quite modern in their designs.  The stones, and/or shell, are cut into shapes which are then put together like a puzzle on a backing.  The backing can be shell, jet, or other materials like records or sheets of plastic which was used during times when materials were hard to come by.  Prior to colonization and the use of metals in Native American jewelry making, the earrings were hung on handmade string.

Many of the Pueblos in New Mexico took on Spanish names after colonization and are now taking back their original names.  Kewa Pueblo is the traditional name of the place and the people.  It was known as Santo Domingo Pueblo for many, many years.