Sicangu Lakota Oyate Turquoise Heart Pendant Necklace with Spiny Oyster and Nevada Blue Turquoise Heishi Beads

Sicangu Lakota Oyate Large Turquoise Heart Pendant Sterling Silver Necklace with Orange and Purple Spiny Oyster and Nevada Blue Turquoise Heishi Beads

Nevada Blue Turquoise is one of the finest turquoise to come out of Nevada. The deposit was discovered in 1901 and access to the mine is extremely difficult. In its high-grade form the colors range from a medium to a dark blue with a black or brown spider webbing. Nevada Blue turquoise was well marketed in the 1970’s and was used by many of the Southwest’s greatest silversmiths.

Spiny Oysters are entirely and laboriously harvested by hand from the waters along the Eastern coast of California & Mexico. The bright shell was a symbol of prosperity and stress relief. Spiny oysters were used for food, their bright shells as a form of currency, and pieces of their shells were fashioned into jewelry.

About the Artist:
Tamara Stands and Looks Back-Spotted Tail is from Sicangu Lakota Oyate known as the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, one of the seven bands of the Great Sioux Nation. Tamara is the great granddaughter of Chief Stands and Looks Back and Mary Spotted Horse.
Her inspiration for jewelry making comes from years of studying Lakota history and its cultural values. Tamara defines her art as therapy and creates one of a kind pieces with good thoughts and prayer, so that whoever wears her creations may walk their path in life with good health and beauty because that is (wolakota) the Lakota way of life.

Native American History:
The production of Native American jewelry began thousands of years ago with stones, bones, coral, and shells. Natives turned these materials into wearable jewelry and traded them for other goods between tribes.
Jewelry was also a marker of status within Native American communities. Individuals of the ruling or elite class typically wore more elaborate pieces to indicate their significant place in society.
Native Americans even carved tiny beads out of shells and bones to wear as necklaces or bracelets, similar to the ones we wear today.
They wore pendants on leather strings, rings, and earrings from materials in their surrounding environment.
Much of the jewelry that is on the market today has been influenced by these early jewelry makers.