More Heishi Fit Notes – Choosing the Correct Length

When buying heishi necklaces, first you need to know how the artist or seller measures their heishi necklaces.

Many heishi makers sell their heishi by length of material used, so 19″ of turquoise heishi might be sold as 19″ …………but with a hook and eye and the bit of slack incorporated in the necklace to make it hang right, the actual necklace wearing length might be closer to 19 3/4″.

For chokers especially, each of us has a particular length we like to wear that suits our physique and clothing necklines. That’s when measurement become particularly important.

Here at horsekeeping, we measure from the tip of the hook to the eye on the other end. That represents the actual end-to-end wearing length.

This results in most thin to medium heishi fitting well……..

but when you are purchasing very thick heishi, necklaces that are 3/8″ thick or more, you should compensate and purchase a necklace that is 1/4″ to 3/4″ longer than your usual length. That’s because the thicker heishi sits away from your neck so some of the end-to-end length is taken up to make the circle around your neck.

The same principle applies to Navajo Pearls. If you wear an 18″ 4mm silver bead necklace, when buying a 14 mm necklace, you might need almost a 19″ long if you want it to sit in the same place on your neckline.

We provide measurements. The best way to get a good fit is to measure a similar necklace you already have that fits you well and compare it to the measurements indicated for the item.

Here’s to beautiful, well-fitting heishi !

Paula

Are the heishi necklaces signed?

Hi Paula,
A year ago i bought a T.Singer bracelet from you.
Now i am interested in purchasing 2 necklaces by Frank Ortiz—#NH 882 & #NH 883 but first 2 questions.
#1. Are the necklaces signed, stamped by Frank ?
#2. Do you include a Cert. of Authenticity for each ?  Thanks for your attention to this email.
Steve

Frank Ortiz Coral and Sterling Silver Necklace

Hi Steve,

As far as necklaces, the only way an artist could sign one is to include a disc or plate with their hallmark on it and string that on the end of the necklace. Some Navajo Pearl bead makers do that or stamp the last bead with their hallmark. But I know of no heishi maker that includes a hallmark. Tommy Singer and his son Richard do put name plates on their large gemstone necklaces, but that is about the only stone necklace signature I can think of.

Tommy Singer hallmark plate

Richard Singer Hallmark Plate

As far as Certificates of Authenticity……here from our website……….

The authenticity of each jewelry item and artifact that we sell on Horsekeeping.com is confirmed in person by us or by our partners to be Native American made. We deal mainly with Native American Indian artists located in New Mexico and Arizona (the heart of Navajo, Hopi, Santo Domingo, Apache and Zuni country) and South Dakota (Oglala Lakota). In many cases, we purchase directly from the artists themselves. Buying in person allows us not only to confirm authenticity, but also to hand select the finest pieces, the best stones, and to learn interesting details about the people who make the jewelry.

Jewelry that is Native American style but is made in China or the Philippines is NOT Native American made and legally cannot be called Native American. Yet it often is! These imported knockoffs hurt legitimate sellers and Native American craftspeople who are being forced out of the jewelry business because of the low prices charged for the fakes.

If authenticity is important to you, buy only from reputable sellers who offer genuine Native American made merchandise. We at Horsekeeping.com describe our authentic Native American made items as “Native American”. When an item is NOT Native American made, we make sure you know that by calling it a Reproduction or putting it in our non-Native American section called the Bargain Barn.

The Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 states that “it is illegal to offer or display for sale, or sell any art or craft product in a manner that falsely suggests it is Indian produced, an Indian product, or the product of a particular Indian tribe.”

Every item we offer as Native American made is in full compliance with this act.

Certificates of Authenticity. Legally, only the artist who makes a piece can fill out and sign a Certificate of Authenticity (COA). Therefore, for us to send you a generic certificate serves no purpose. Only about a half dozen of the artists that we purchase from provide COAs. Of the rest, many of them sign or put a hallmark on their pieces. Some do not. Buying from reputable sellers is your main assurance that the Native American item you purchase is Native American made.

Paula

More on Navajo and Zuni Fetish Necklaces

There is a term associated with fetish necklaces – stacked.

That refers to fetishes strung one right on the top of one another rather than separated by a length of heishi. If heishi is used, it can be pen shell, olive shell, white clam shell, turquoise, jet or other.

Here are some examples of the various heishi that is used in between fetishes.

Pen shell heishi with turquoise heishi accent

Jet heishi

Pink shell heishi

Turquoise heishi

Here is an example of a “semi-stacked” fetish necklace, that is, one that has just a small amount of heishi in between each fetish.

Semi-stacked fetish necklace

Here are some examples of true stacked fetish necklaces, those that are fetish on fetish.

Stacked Fetish Necklace

Stacked fetish necklace

Close-up of stacked fetish necklace

Every artist has his or her own vision of what a fetish necklace should look like:

• the size of the fetishes

• the style of the fetishes

• the stones and shells used for the fetishes

• the stones and shells used for the heishi

• the space between the fetishes

• the type of closure (more on that in tomorrow’s post).

Navajo Tommy Singer Bamboo Coral and Treasure Necklaces

Hi Paula,

I am interested in some of Tommy Singer’s work which is displayed on your website.

Items NHS828, NH878, NH827, and the multi-strand bamboo coral.

Tommy Singer 3 Strand Gemstone Necklace

Tommy Singer Turquoise Gemstone Necklace

Tommy Singer Purple Spiny Oyster Gemstone Necklace

Tommy Singer 7 Strand Bamboo Coral Gemstone Necklace

I am wondering what percentage of the beads he uses are actually handmade/handformed by him or his family. My wife and I are building a collection, trying to stick to sole-authorship pieces.

Any information you can give me on these pieces, or any others you might have by Tommy and others would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks and best regards,

Charlie

Hi Charlie,

Thanks for your inquiry.

The 12K gold filled barrel beads that are decorated, gold, black silver are made by Tommy Singer. Also the solid sterling silver barrel beads are made by him. They are on most of his necklaces. They are his signature treasure necklace beads.

The purple and orange spiny oyster and turquoise heishi style disc beads are made by him. Also the other gemstone beads that are disc style.

The long narrow bamboo coral – I am not sure but I think not made by him.

The little sterling silver decorative spacers – I think not made by him.

The sterling silver cone ends are not made by him.

So a high percentage of what goes into his necklace is hand made by Tommy Singer or his family.

Doris and James Coriz make all the component of their necklaces, for example

Spirit Necklace made by Doris and James Coriz, Santo Domingo

Olive Shell Fish Necklace by James and Doris Coriz, Santo Domingo

Close up of fish

These artists also make ALL of the heishi right on the “string” so to speak.

10 Strand Heishi Necklace by Janice Tenorio, Santo Domingo

Close up of Tenorio heishi

Enjoy browsing and let me know if I can help further.

Food and Clothes of Ancient Pueblos

Hello Paula,

Could you please explain what the Pueblo people eat and how it was cooked and served.Also clothes the women and the men wore. I have always been intrigued with the Native Americans.
Rita

Hi Rita,

Thank you for your question. I suggest the library or bookstore to find the answer to your questions about the lifestyle of the ancient Pueblo Indians.

To get you started, here is a brief discussion of the use of the word pueblo.

What does pueblo mean?

Santo Domingo Pueblo Heishi

Native American Chiclet (Chicklet) Necklaces

Santo Domingo Chiclet Necklace

In 1899, US gum manufacturers formed a conglomerate, The American Chicle Company.

In 1906 Frank Fleer (does his name ring a bell, bubble gum lovers?) began making a hard-shelled, candy-coated white peppermint gum called Chiclets.

Chicle is the English version of the word tzikiti (“sticky stuff”), the Nahuatl word for the resin that makes chewing gum. Oddly enough though, Chiclets are made from a different gum base!

By 1920, Chiclets were available in bright colors: yellow, green, orange, red, white, and pink. The small shiny rectangles each had a different flavor – mostly fruits; the white was still peppermint.

Chiclets Gum

Native Americans, most specifically Santo Domingo artists, began calling their colorful, multi-stone necklaces “Chiclet Necklaces” and it is easy to see why.

Santo Domingo Chiclet Necklace

Some Santo Domingo artists add small treasures among the chiclets and call the necklaces Treasure Necklaces.

Santo Domingo Treasure Necklace with Fetish Bear

Santo Domingo Treasure Necklace with Pipestone Hummingbird Fetish

Amber in Native American Jewerly and Fetish Carvings

 

Amber Bear Fetish Carving by Zuni artist Joanne Cheama

Amber is……
fossilized tree sap. Although amber is not a mineral, it is classified as a gemstone. Most of the world’s amber is 30-90 million years old. It can contain insects, small vertebrates and other particulate matter both plant and animal. Amber is commonly a clear golden color, but it may have greenish to goldish inclusions.

Amber is sometimes used in Santo Domingo necklaces for the beads or for adornments added to the necklace.

Amber necklace with Fetish Bear by Santo Domingo artists James and Doris Coriz

Amber Hummingbird Fetish on a Treasure Necklace by Santo Domingo Artists James and Doris Coriz

90% of the world’s extractable amber is located in the Baltic Sea off the coasts of Poland and Russia.

Bee seeing you……….

Hector Goodluck Monument Valley Fetish Necklace

Hi Paula,

I absolutely have fallen in love with your Monument Valley fetish necklace
($180.) I have never seen anything like it, and I traveled everywhere
throughout those areas 3 times and I loved the red rocks in Arches National
Park, Bryce,and Zion. Your beads are very spiritual to me and they tell me
many stories from my past experiences. My question is, would it be possible for me to buy just the beads of the necklace so I can string it myself? Thank you so much, Jan

Monument Valley Necklace by Hector Goodluck, Navajo

Hi Jan,

I know what you mean about those necklaces – they are unique and engaging. I believe Hector Goodluck is the only one who carves those images and makes a
Monument Valley necklace. I knew he made them but it took us about a year to be able to get them from him ! I just feel like I am “wearing the area” when I have mine on.
We only sell the artist’s work as is, but it would be easy to restring them to your liking. They come with earrings for $180, so there you have some additional beads for your custom project.

Paula

Fetishes & carvings include features of Navajo life in Monument Valley such as:
hogan corn mustang horse mountain sheep burro jackrabbit prairie dog,	sheep horse lizard Window Rock Mitten Butte Camel Butte Rain God Mesa.

Hi Paula,

Thanks for getting back to me. I will put the necklace at the top of my wish
list for Christmas presents. It has such depth and each fetish has its own
story to tell. So amazing! Jan

Happy Cyber Monday from Native American Jewerly Tips

Good morning and Happy Cyber Shopping today and every day at Horsekeeping, the webstore of Native American Jewelry Tips.

Today’s special is the same as every day:

Excellent customer service

Authentic Native American made jewelry and artifacts

Unique items – 95% of our items are one of a kind – ONE ONLY – items

The best internet source for Navajo Pearls

Medicine Bag Central

An ever changing Pawn Shop

 

Fabulous Turquoise and Stone Bracelets

New items listed daily – see our New Page

Entry level items from $10 to Collector’s Pieces up to $3000

Stocking stuffers to Special Gifts.

Let me know if I can help !

Turquoise Heishi Necklaces – Price Differences

Hi Paula,

Can you please tell me why the 22″ necklace is almost $100 more than
the 18″?  They are by the same artist, Ella Mae Garcia. Thank you.   Debbie

Hi Debbie,

I’m not sure exactly which necklaces you are asking about……as we have many……….so I’m just going to take a guess here………

This 18″ turquoise heishi necklace is $52

Santo Domingo Turquoise Heishi Necklace by Ella Mae Garcia

The 22″ necklace is $138.

Santo Domingo Turquoise Heishi Necklace by Ella Mae Garcia

The 22″ is priced like it is because that is what the artist charged us at the time
we purchased it.

Then we ordered a large batch of 17″ and 18″ necklaces from her and she sold them to us for a lower price so we have passed that savings on to our customers.

Let me know if I figured out which necklaces you were talking about and if
you have any more questions.

Paula

Paula,

You are right!  The 22″ is the length I want (to replace one that I bought in AZ in 1973…daughter lost it)  boo hoo.  Really can’t afford it at this time but thank you so much for explaining those 4 inches!  Never expected a reply on Sunday…thank you. Debbie

My pleasure – One more thing Debbie – the turquoise used sometimes costs the artists more at one time than another. The green turquoise used in the 22″ was a more expensive turquoise than the lighter blue used in the shorter ones……….nothing is ever the same with Native American hand made jewelry and that’s what makes it interesting. Also diameter will enter in – since the 22″ has more of the larger diameter heishi beads, it is, relatively speaking, more turquoise………(besides the extra inches) – in a way, turquoise, being a precious gemstone, is sold by size of stones or weight if you know what I mean…….its all based on what it took the artist to buy materials and time spent in making.

Making heishi is a very labor intensive (and dusty!) job ! Read All About Heishi including how it is made.

I’ll bet that 1973 necklace was nice – too bad your daughter lost it.

Come see us when you rob your piggy bank ! And note that there is one necklace left that is only 1/2″ shorter but $20 less than the one you asked about. If that would work for you, it is a beautiful necklace.