Beads

Hand Rolled, Hand Made

This beautiful collection is comprised of stone and metal beads. Each Southwest Native American tribe traditionally specializes in different types of beads, from Navajo Pearls to Santo Domingo Heishi. Stone beads are made by hand cutting the raw material into squares, after which holes are drilled through the center. Strung together, the rough squares are hand shaped against a turning stone wheel. In the process, 60 – 70% of the original material is lost. For metal beads, artists make each half of the bead individually by hammering a sheet of metal against a semi-circular depression in a steel/iron plate. The two bead halves are delicately soldered together to create a continuous form.

Learn More: How Are Navajo Pearls Made?    About Heishi Bead Necklaces