Nestoria Coriz is a distinguished Native American artist from Santo Domingo Pueblo (Kewa), recognized as one of the finest necklace makers in her community. Her work blends traditional Pueblo techniques with her creative vision, yielding pieces that feel both classic and fresh. The artist creates every component herself by hand, from the heishi beads and silverwork to the distinctive drop pendants that make each necklace a complete work of art.
Meet Nestoria Coriz
Nestoria “Pat” Coriz belongs to a family of talented Kewa artists who helped shape jewelry traditions at Santo Domingo Pueblo for generations. Her journey into the world of jewelry making began at the age of six, when she started learning essential skills from her paternal grandparents, Santiago and Trinidad Pena. Nestoria would spend hours polishing stones on buckskin rug surfaces, learning the fundamentals of heishi and other beadwork. Since the Pueblo had no access to electricity at the time, all jewelry making relied on traditional methods, teaching the artist the importance of patience in her work from a young age.
Nestoria expanded her artistic abilities as a teenager during the 1960s by learning silversmithing while working at Turpen’s Trading Post in Albuquerque alongside her father, Lupe Pena. She developed her own style of jewelry making through continuous practice and personal exploration, reflecting her aesthetic vision. Her commitment to quality shines through her use of premium materials, including fine turquoise varieties and carefully selected shells and stones. Nestoria also creates all silverwork in her jewelry, from small connecting pieces to decorative components that add to the beauty of each piece. Her exceptional necklaces now grace museums and galleries throughout the Southwest, while her three sons carry on the creative legacy she imparted to them.
Discover Nestoria Coriz’s Work
Nestoria Coriz uses high-grade gemstones and shells in her jewelry, working with turquoise varieties that include Kingman, Blue Gem, Sleeping Beauty, Royston, and Carico Lake. She also incorporates various shades of spiny oyster, gaspeite, Acoma jet, coral, and abalone in her designs. Below are notable jewelry types that beautifully embody Nestoria’s skills and style.
Pendants
The artist creates drop pendants that serve as removable centerpieces for her necklaces. Her pendants may feature detailed patterns made of turquoise, lapis lazuli, and mother-of-pearl set in sterling silver. Diamond-shaped centerpieces show her skill in inlay work, where each stone is carefully cut and fitted to create smooth designs. Nestoria’s pendants are versatile and can be worn with various necklace strands, offering wearers multiple styling options.
Necklaces
Handmade necklaces by Nestoria may have two, three, four, or five strands of turquoise and assorted stones, creating stunning layered patterns. Many of her multi-strand pieces feature large shell terminals inlaid with turquoise, spiny oyster shell, and sterling silver that bring the strands together. One of the artist’s popular designs includes jacla pendants with corn drops and hand-stamped sterling silver barrel beads that add a traditional touch. She often uses natural Mediterranean coral from her father’s personal collection, harvested up to the 1960s, which lends both historical value and exceptional quality to her work. Several of Nestoria’s necklace designs come with matching earrings that contain the same coral, turquoise, and sterling silver combinations to create comprehensive coordinated sets.
Shop Nestoria Coriz’s Jewelry at SilverTQ
SilverTQ brings you the exclusive work of Nestoria Coriz, a tremendous Pueblo jewelry artist whose creations reflect generations of cultural history and heritage. We are proud to offer Nestoria’s handmade earrings, necklaces, and pendants that showcase elegant, chic, and signature designs rooted in her family’s artistic legacy. Check out our collection today and find a piece that complements your style.
FAQs
How can I verify the authenticity of this jewelry?
SilverTQ works directly with Native American artists and guarantees that all jewelry is genuine and handmade. Nestoria’s jewelry is always authentic and uses the highest quality natural materials that make her pieces unmistakably hers.
What are the best practices for maintaining my jewelry?
Store your jewelry in a soft pouch or a jewelry box and avoid direct sun exposure. Always remove jewelry when swimming, bathing, applying lotion, using cleaning products, or spraying perfume. Regularly inspect the jewelry to identify any loose stones, scratches, or signs of wear early on so that repairs can be done in time. When you clean it, make sure to focus on one material at a time, using only a dry cloth to gently wipe the stones, and a separate cloth with silver polish on the sterling silver parts.
