Asymmetric Crimson Bead and Horn Necklace

• Multi-strand asymmetric design
• Graduated single-strand horn discs
• Dense coconut bead cluster
• Carved horn accent bead
• Button-and-loop closure

Horn and coconut shell are natural materials, so bead tone, grain and sheen vary slightly from one piece to the next.

Made in the Philippines, where coconut shell and horn are the working materials of a longstanding jewelry trade. Coconut shell is sliced into small discs, sanded to a uniform heishi shape, dyed and polished until it takes color evenly. Horn is cut, heat-shaped and hand-buffed to bring out its natural translucency.

Pairing the two in one piece is a signature of the Philippine horn-and-shell trade — a workshop practice of coloring, cutting and stringing local materials into finished jewelry. The asymmetric silhouette applies a contemporary hand to that skill.

Each strand is knotted by hand and worked against the others so the mass clusters on one side and thins to a single tapered line on the other. The larger black horn form is carved and polished separately as a focal piece, and the whole is finished with a hand-tied button-and-loop clasp.

• Technique: Philippine horn and coconut shell beadwork

Wipe with a soft, dry cloth. Store away from moisture and direct heat to protect the natural horn and coconut shell.