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ABOUT THE HOHOKAM PEOPLE:

Unless you’re familiar with every American Native tribe throughout the southwest, most however have never heard of Arizona’s Hohokam people who lived in the North American Southwest which is now part of south-central Arizona, United States, and Sonora, Mexico. The reason most haven’t heard of them, is because they existed between the years of 300 and 1500 CE, with cultural precursors possibly as early as 300 BCE! .The Hohokam culture declined around 1450 CE, and the reasons for their disappearance are not fully understood. 

Most archaeologists either argue they emerged locally or in Mesoamerica, but were also influenced by the Northern Pueblo culture. One of the main & most intriguing things they were known for, was for the Hohokam's advanced irrigation systems which were the most advanced in North America at the time, with canals stretching for miles. They were also skilled farmers, cultivating crops like corn, beans, squash, and cotton, and developing extensive irrigation canals to water their fields. They were also highly skilled artisans, creating the most intricate shell/stone jewelry, along with pottery.

A PERSONAL WORD:

Ancient Ancestral Puebloan sites, such as the renowned Chaco Canyon, have documented that pueblo ancestors were situated at the heart of extensive turquoise trade routes that stretched from the Pacific Northwest all the way down to Central America. These important trade routes not only facilitated the exchange of turquoise but also brought in a variety of shells, tusks, and other natural materials into the cultural sphere of ancestral Pueblo communities. This rich influx of diverse materials played a significant role in making their intricate mosaic pieces vibrant, colorful, and truly unique, reflecting a broad network of connections across regions.

THE NECKLACE:

When the idea of recreating some of the ancient Ancestral Puebloan and pre-historic Hohokam jewelry first came to mind, there was truly no other artist I could trust to bring this vision to life with authenticity and care, than Kewa Puebloan artist Warren Nieto. He immediately understood exactly what I was referring to and shared in the excitement and I was confident the work would be done with the utmost respect and skill, along with his historical knowledge to back it.

With that said, I have to admit that having worked with Warren for several years now, I have personally loved each & every piece that he’s designed. However, this collection is much different and truly stands apart, as he stepped out of his comfort zone to design what I would confidently call some of his FINEST jewelry pieces that I have ever had the thrill to proudly carry. What he did was, he took this necklace, (along with others listed in the collection) and allowed his imagination and creativity—(fueled by his deep historical knowledge)—to run freely while taking it to a whole new level of design, which happens to be apart of his remarkable “Ancestral Puebloan Series.” (Additional pieces can be found under both the “Necklace” and the “Necklace 2” categories.) Every necklace designed in this series is extraordinarily impressive and detailed, but with this particular necklace, I must say, is truly “Museum Worthy” and absolutely deserving of a place in a museum’s permanent collection. It isn’t just a necklace; it is a genuine piece of wearable art that tells a story. This is absolutely my most FAVORITE necklace out of the series & If I were to keep something I actually purchase for resale, this would undoubtedly be the piece I would proudly cherish!!! Every element of this necklace exudes amazing artistry, down to Warren’s ORIGINAL, one-of-a-kind toggle closure that adds a final signature touch of uniqueness and workmanship. (See the last photos for a close-up view.)

The theme of this INCREDIBLY designed necklace beautifully centers around water and the ongoing existence of frogs, symbolizing life and nature’s delicate balance. Playing a leading role in the composition is the creamy white Glycymeris (Clam) Shell, a material highly valued by the ancient Hohokam people. This exquisite shell was carefully chosen not only for the heishi strands that form the necklace, but also for the exquisitely hand-sculpted frogs featured prominently in the design. What truly sets this piece apart is not just the intricate workmanship, but the stunning mosaic inlay that adorns the frogs, while showcasing the adorable hand sculpted turquoise tadpole ornaments (Or charms) that are thoughtfully incorporated into the design, which absolutely capture and elevate the overall artistic vision, leaving a lasting impression that will blow anybody away!

The turquoise tadpoles are also intricately mosaic inlaid on the sides of the striking Pueblo Raincloud design, which sits beautifully and prominently atop the large center frog. However, the true highlight and most impressive feature in this design is how Warren mosaic inlaid a movable 2.50” long turquoise tadpole on the underside of the center frog. This unique element not only adds visual intrigue but also cleverly functions to securely hold the hesihi strands in place. (See photos 16, 17, 18, 19 for detailed views!!)

And finally, another part of the necklace that REALLY impresses me, is how Warren ingeniously came up with this brilliant idea for the necklace’s closure by taking a small bone for one end, then creating a complementary “T” shaped piece made of vibrant Spiny Oyster for the other end, to make his own original custom made toggle! The bone couldn’t have been a better choice for the toggle, since the hole is already there!! Now, if that isn’t impressive workmanship and creativity, I truly don’t know what is!!!

Remarkably, no metal was used whatsoever in the design; instead, this exquisite necklace is entirely made using specialized techniques where “Lapidary Art” plays a crucial and important role. This art form highlights the extraordinary beauty and exceptional skill involved in carefully cutting and shaping every single material.

Coming from someone who has had the privilege of seeing some of the best designs — (as well as some of the worst!) — I honestly can’t say this enough: this stunning piece should proudly be on display at a top Native American museum! I truly believe this.. It genuinely represents the “Mother Lode” of all Pueblo necklaces, showcasing exceptional workmanship, creativity and cultural significance that is truly unparalleled.

This is a “One of a Kind” necklace without there being another!

Be sure to check out Warren’s Ancestral Puebloan earrings & more necklaces, including "HOHOKAM" inspired necklaces!! (A ultra gorgeous 5 strand Charm Necklace from the series can be found under “Necklaces”, whereas all the others are under this same “Necklace 2” category! Earrings are under the “Earrings 3” category!

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ALSO VIEW ALL PHOTOS,SINCE THEY PLAY A ROLE TO THE DESCRIPTION!

ANCESTRAL PUEBLO SERIES NECKLACE:

ARTIST: WARREN NIETO - MADE EXCLUSIVELY FOR PLATA de SANTA FE JEWELRY

TRIBAL AFFILIATION: KEWA VILLAGE-(SANTO DOMINGO PUEBLO)

WEARABLE LENGTH: 25.5” (MEASURED LAYING HORIZONTALLY-FROM SPINY OYSTER TOGGLE TO BONE-WITHOUT THE FROG)

FROG ALONE: 3.50” X 3.25”

TOTAL LENGTH: ABOUT 29”

WEIGHT: 150 GRAMS (5.3 OUNCES)

HAND CARVED-TURQUOISE TADPOLE SIZE: ABOUT 1.50" LONG

ORNAMENTS SIZE: (CHARMS) SEE PHOTOS

MATERIALS: KINGMAN TURQUOISE-APPLE CORAL-CLAM SHELL-BONE-SPINY OYSTER-STRING

HEISHI CLAM SHELL BEAD SIZE: GRADUATES FROM AS LARGE AS 9 MM DOWN TO 6 MM ROUND

STRAND AMOUNT: 1

CLOSURE: WARREN’S ‘ORIGINAL” HAND MADE TOGGLE

HALLMARK: “WN” WITH “KIVA STEPS” ON BACK OF CENTER FROG

COMES GIFT BOXED

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SIGNATURE REQUIREMENT:

Anything with a high price tag, will have a mandatory signature confirmation requirement (reflected in shipping price).. If you're not home in the day & need this shipped where it can be signed for,please change that in your "Ship To" section before I create the shipping label***I'm sorry if this may be an inconvenience, but I do not ship expensive pieces without one. This is for your safety & mine

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PLEASE READ BEFORE PURCHASING:

I do not consider myself a 'professional photographer" but I do try my hardest to give you photos that are 'realistic" in color. Please realize that all monitors are different, so the materials can look more vivid (or duller) from one computer to the next.

To give you close up photos,pictures tend to make the item look much more larger & everything is more magnified than in actuality. So to get an accurate idea of how big this is, please either check it out being worn to get a rough idea (see photos) or you can pull out a tape measure & compare to my given measurements above.