Here's a lovely contemporary inlaid Santo Domingo necklace that was obtained directly from the artist, Chris Nieto of Santo Domingo Pueblo. This lovely mosaic inlaid pendant is inlaid on all four sides with turquoise and all types of semi-precious stones & shells. The back is inlaid with serpentine. The big round bale is also inlaid. The inlay work is so meticulously cut and polished that it seems to be made from only one piece of stone. The pendant measures 3-1/4 long, including the bale, 1-3/8 wide at its widest point, and is 1/4 thick. The 18 necklace is made from hand-made jet & apple coral beads. Chris has etched his initials CTN on the back along with SDP for Santo Domingo Pueblo. As with all Chris's work, this is a one of a kind beautiful piece.
The optional matching earrings by the same artist can be purchased for an additional $55 when you add the piece to your cart. Select Yes, from the drop down menu.
Christopher Nieto is a young artist from Santo Domingo Pueblo who has excelled beyond his years in terms of the exacting precision of his traditional necklaces, both in terms of design and execution of the component parts of his pieces. All of his beads are handmade and his mosaic inlay work is second to none in its quality of craftsmanship.
I purchased this piece directly from the artist, Christopher Thomas Nieto, at an Indian Arts and Crafts Association (IACA) wholesale market. His work is increasingly sought after and he has won many awards for his jewelry.