Carved Wampum Killer Whale Necklace Wampanoag Artist Elizabeth James-Perry

Carved Wampum Killer Whale Necklace Wampanoag Artist Elizabeth James-Perry

A carved wampum killer whale necklace with cord by Wampanoag artist Elizabeth James-Perry. Beautiful color variations of purple and white mark the front of the whale. The killer whale is also known by a gentler name, the orca.

The artist selects her shells carefully and cuts and finishes them all in the traditional way, by hand, to preserve their attractive contours and colors.

The contours are difficult to display in two-dimensional photographs, but they add a lot to the visual aesthetic when seen in person.

Wampum has been used by coastal tribes for thousands of years. Items made from quahog shells, commonly called wampum, are culturally significant to New England tribes and are held in great esteem within families and within tribes.

Perry hand selects each quahog shell for color and other qualities. She continues this traditional work form as a way of honoring her connection to her ancestors, their history, their way of life, and the ocean that sustains them.

Whale is 2 1/2 inches high x 1 3/8 inches wide x approximately 1/2 inch deep, accounting for the curve. Cord is 22 inches long. Round wampum discs run along both sides of the cord; a separate round disc is used to secure the cord.

Materials: quahog shells, synthetic cord