Large vintage Santo Domingo multi stone decorated Spondylus shell necklace. The large Spondylus shell is also called spiny oyster. The artist has cut the long protective thorns or “spines” from the raw shell and sanded the very top layer of the raw shell to highlight the multitude of colors. The artist has decorated the top of the shell with three (3) different types of turquoise from different mines along with white shell and black jet cut squares and two (2) silver rods that separate the row of white shell and jet from the top run of turquoise and the bottom run of turquoise. Finishing the decorated shell with a clear coat sealer. The artist creates two (2) double strands that consist of a balanced array of shell heishi, blue cut turquoise decorative beads, jet beads, spiny oyster chips, mother of pearl beads, and decorative sunburst stamped sterling silver barrel beads. Each double strands are brought together inside a sterling silver cone with one having a shepherds hook and other with the connecting eye of the clasp . Each double strand is then connected to the shell.

The necklace measures 27” end to end with a wearable length of 15 3/4” measured from clasp down to bottom of the shell. The large shell itself measures 2 7/8” tall by 3” across. The necklace weighs 93.6 grams (3.30 oz) and has been etched with what appears to be AWIC - SDP. I take it’s the artist mark, but not familiar who it is? The cones are stamped with a Sunrise - STERLING. We haven’t cleaned the sterling barrel beads since the patina goes good with the rest of the necklace. Large beautiful colorful Santo Domingo shell necklace! $529.95