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Shell Jewelry | |
 Quahog shell fish pendant by Carol Lopez, Mashpee, 1976 |
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| Joan Tavares chose the shell jewelry
because "the quahog shell has been very significant to the Wampanoag people, and has
been for a long time before invasion. It is traditional. It is used for regalia, special
gifts within our community, and it is also used for tributes, belts, history." This necklace was made by Carol Lopez, Mashpee Wampanoag. She knew quahogs had been used to make beads with special significance, known as wampum, and wanted to use the material. She developed a process of using a cardboard pattern, laying it out on a shell, cutting the quahog shell with a jigsaw, then polishing the product in a rock tumbler. |
 An illustration of Carol's process |
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Ikwe is gathering quahog. The shells can be used to make jewelry. | |
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Quahog shell | The finished product |
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More examples of Carol's work | |
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Tie tack | Choker |
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Earrings | Ring |
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