Slab Turquoise Earrings
These traditional slab turquoise earrings are made from hand cut and polished blue turquoise. They are handmade by Jennifer Medina of the Kewa tribe, also known by the Spanish name of Santo Domingo Pueblo, in northern New Mexico, USA.
These large slab earrings measure 5cm in overall length, including the sterling silver ear wire. The turquoise slabs measures 34mm x 18mm.
Jennifer Medina
In August 2017 Jennifer Medina was awarded first place in the jewellery category at Santa Fe Indian Market.
“I was taught by my mother at a young age of 12 with my two sisters. She made us learn because it was her only income and thought we would use it some day. We grew up learning how to cut turquoise, shell and coral. She taught us how to shape and drill the stones By our junior year of high school we knew the whole process of bead making from scratch, an art form our people from Santo Domingo Pueblo have been practising for hundreds of years. It was about 12 years ago when I decided to try my hand in silversmithing. I know there are a lot of women jewellers in Santo Domingo. Most are bead makers or lapidary jewelers, people who work with stones from the ground up. The creations they make with turquoise, shell and other stones are pretty amazing. But there aren’t very many silversmiths overall. People are starting to branch out and are taking silversmithing classes. A far as silversmiths among women Native artists overall, the field is growing. We’re here and we are definitely competing with all the men.” Jennifer Medina
The exceptionally talented Medina family have been making jewellery for Rainmaker Gallery for more than fifteen years.
