MEET KATHERINE! ("Cool Wee e " -Phonetic pronunciation: Coo-we-ah which translates into "Elegant Beauty". )

She’s the Grande Dame Bombshell from the Kewa Pueblo Village. She has elegance, style and a figure that goes on for days! She is a traditional woman, but very 2024!

Move aside Iman, Kardashians , Klum & Gisele! There's a new girl that's ready for the runway & her name is Katherine! Katherine is a modern day Kewa woman and the Pueblo's most sexiest, most fashion forward woman from the Kewa village, who is dressed to attend New York City's "Met Gala".

Statuesque and voluptuously standing at 3 feet (36") tall, Katherine is made with all the right curves, in all the right places and has a body most women would die to have! Looking as if she stepped fresh out of one of Modigliani's painted canvas's, she has the most beautiful Modigliani elongated necklines that is extremely feminine and graceful and is made from hand cut and shaped cottonwood that Jolene and her family cut and sculpted themselves..

Its the level of where artists like numerous award winning Kewa artist JOLENE BIRD are at, that put Santa Fe (and New Mexico in general,) 3rd from the top in the country for the #1 place for art. (Larger cities like NYC & San Francisco are 1st & 2nd) And it's pieces like Katherine, that make that possible and are clearly the reason why!!

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THE BODY:

Used as the base for the entire evening gown to be mosaic inlaid atop of, Katherine is beautifully sculpted of natural Pueblo cottonwood.. She wears her traditional bun (The Kewa people call it "Uah-naa ba-thee st-unt") that is traditionally used with yarn and is shown where the white is on the bun) She has one hand tucked in her dress, while the other holds her mosaic inlaid turquoise purse. If you look at her backside, she even has the spinal bone carved in there that shows so beautifully because of her strapless gown!

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THE TURQUOISE EVENING GOWN:

Her dress is made with what was originally 10 pounds of Nevada turquoise, (which of course after cutting & waste, narrows that amount down) Her dress is fully mosaic inlaid, which like a puzzle, each piece is carefully placed, for perfect fit. Used as accents are 5 Abalone crosses that line the front,one on the back and then on the side. There is a small mosaic inlaid "Cactus Flower " accent on the back of her dress! (See backside photos)

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KATHERINES JEWELRY:

Besides her gown and body, the next best part about Katherine is that she comes with her very own JEWELRY COLLECTION!!! She comes with a variety of 4 necklace changes ,3 bracelets and 2 sets of earrings!

ABALONE SET:

For a more elegant look, she has a abalone set that has the most GORGEOUS colored abalone necklace that shimmers like no other and has almost a metallic look to it. The lengthy and slim abalone earrings measure 3-3/4" long and comes with 2 wire wrapped, 'slinky' style abalone bracelets that can be left if you do a jewelry wardrobe change or taken off. The necklace is done in a panel style & the panels go from being as long as 1-1/4" & narrows down to 3/4" long. The necklace measures 6.50" horizontally. All the hardware are in sterling.(See photos)

THE MOSAIC PANEL NECKLACE and EARRINGS:
Made in a traditional Puebloan panel style, the necklace is made where each panel is mosaic inlaid with materials known to Santo Domingo jewelry and is finalized with 2 strands of clam shell heishi. The longest panel measures 1-5/8" long in the front and graduates to as short as 7/8" at the end. The 1-1/2" long x 3/8" earrings are made the same way and are mosaic inlaid atop of white shell. I want to mention that with the earrings, there is a drilled hole by Katherine's hairline where the earrings are an easy change out.

THE TRADITIONAL 'JACLA' NECKLACE AND SCALLOP SHELL NECKLACE:

The 3 strand Jacla necklace is made beads of turquoise and alternate with turquoise tabs. The Jacla is made with matte finished red/orange sponge coral & has turquoise tabs on the bottom. Measured horizontally, there is 11" of turquoise and 3" of string per side. This one you tie by hand.

The traditional 1-1/4" x 1" single scallop shell necklace is mosaic inlaid on the top and is finalize with turquoise beads. Measured horizontally, this necklace measures 10" total in length and also has 3" per side of string that again, you will hand tie.

THE PURSE:

Non-detachable, the trapezoidal shaped mosaic inlaid purse, is anchored by a strand of turquoise beads, has an accent of abalone in the center & 3 dangles of turquoise beads with Mother of Pearl "Stars" dangling from the bottom! From top of purse to the bottom, the purse measures 7" long (See photos) The turquoise wrap bracelet matches this.

The bottom has 7 round cushioned pads for stability and or protection to anything you place her on.(see last photo)

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A FINAL WORD:

A MUST HAVE for any serious Native American collector’s home! Like any FINE art, Katherine took month's and month's to create and is the epitome of what is considered a "Museum Worthy" figure of art! I believe that she is fine enough to be in our Governor’s mansion, where some of the finest pieces of New Mexico art are displayed & if she was brought to our yearly "Santa Fe Indian Market", (which is our biggest Native American juried market in the country,) I have no doubt she may take 1st place, since she is THAT unique and THAT unusual and is a piece you just don't,nor won't see!!! It is truly AN HONOR to have such a piece as Katherine & shows the caliber of Jolene's art.

** I CAN DO A LAYAWY,BUT ONLY THROUGH MY SANTA FE STORE! **