Kateri Quandelacy Sanchez's artist lineage is rich as she hails from the renowned Quandelacy family of Zuni stone carvers and jewelers. She's been carving since she was only 10 years old. Her late mother Georgia Quandelacy and Georgia's brother Stewart Quandelacy are originators of the rounded-back Medicine-Bear. The Quandelacy family is noted for their innovative work collected the world over.
Kateri's latest offering is a stunning Corn-Maiden and corn cob double-strand necklace created from lovely quahog clam shells also known as wampum. The dark purple sections of the shell are only found on the edges making them rarer. Sacred connections are associated with quahog wampum used ceremonially and domestically such as record keeping and trade for Indigenous cultures. Corn Maidens saved the People from famine by nourishing them with sacred corn kernels from their bodies. Etched and jet paste-filled faces along with essential water creature Dragonflies and stars grace the pieces. The Corn Maidens and corn cob carvings range from approximately 1 1/4" to 1 3/4" long, 1/4" to 3/8" wide, all are roughly 1/8" deep. They are skillfully strung with iridescent abalone and turquoise beads in various scrumptious shapes and sizes. Including the 1 1/2" long silver tips, the collectible necklace is about 23" to 27" in adjustable length.
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