Here's a lovely pair of contemporary inlaid Santo Domingo earrings obtained directly from the artist, Chris Nieto of Santo Domingo Pueblo. The lovely mosaic inlaid earrings are inlaid with serpentine, apple coral, jet and white shell on serpentine backs. The inlay work is so meticulously cut and polished that it seems to be made from only one piece of stone.
The earrings measure 1 inch long, 3/4 inch wide at the widest point, and 3/16 inch thick. Each light-weight earring weighs about 2 grams. Chris has etched his initials CTN on the back of one earring and SDP for Santo Domingo Pueblo o the back of the other. As with all Chris's work, these are one of a kind pieces.
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.