Vintage Augustine Lovato Necklace And Earrings Set

This vintage necklace and earring set by the late Santo Domingo or Kewa Pueblo jeweler Augustine Lovato is very special. In a time when so much of life is fast paced and mass produced, her lovely jewelry harkens back to a slower, more intentional period.

Augustine Lovato hand cut and hand rolled beads from olivella shells. It's a traditional technique that Southwest Pueblo artisans have been using for centuries to form beaded jewelry. It's a far earlier method than the silversmithing techniques we frequently associate with southwestern Native American jewelry. 

Good handmade beads have a certain feel to the hand and Augustine Lovato's graduated beads certainly have that feel. For additional accents to the olivella shell beads, Augustine created three hand made and hand stamped barrel beads that are graduated in size to match the size of the olivella shell beads. She's also created tiny silver cones and a hook and eye closure. 

Her little dangle earrings perfectly match the necklace.

The set is so easy to wear with the beautiful earth tones that mimic the desert landscape of New Mexico, where the jewelry was first imagined and created. It has a simple look, but it's so much more when you take into account the history of Pueblo jewelry and its handmade nature.

What's extra special about this wonderful necklace and earring set is that it comes with two natural olivella shells like the ones Augustine Lovato used to make this jewelry, and it also comes with a set of Augustine's little pink handmade business cards from way back in the day when the original collector first fell in love with and purchased this treasure

Necklace measures 18 1/4" from end to end. Largest silver barrel bead is 1/2" long. Dangle earrings are for pierced ears and they dangle 1 5/8" long.