{"product_id":"the-last-harvest-by-thomas-fransisco","title":"The Last Harvest by Thomas Fransisco","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEvery one of these coral beads represents something that can never be made again.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNot because we forgot how.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBecause the Mediterranean that produced coral like this has changed forever.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRun your fingers across the strand and you’ll notice something curious. The beads aren’t trying to be perfectly identical. They’re trying to be alive. Tiny variations in thickness, soft satin surfaces worn by decades, and a color that doesn’t scream—it glows. That warmth only comes from genuine \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMediterranean precious coral (Corallium rubrum)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, harvested long before modern restrictions transformed it from a luxury material into an increasingly finite one. Today, fine untreated Mediterranean coral commands significant premiums, with exceptional gem-quality material trading for hundreds of dollars per carat and the finest examples far beyond that, while lower-grade rough and carving material sells for far less. The dramatic spread in pricing reflects color, saturation, uniformity, size, and provenance.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe centerpiece is a beautifully carved \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThomas Francisco\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e pendant, where the coral isn’t merely polished—it has been sculpted into a bold geometric composition that feels simultaneously ancient and modern. Francisco framed it with restrained silverwork, allowing the coral to remain the unmistakable heart of the piece.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRather than competing with the pendant, the necklace becomes its landscape.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGraduated Mediterranean coral heishi slowly gives way to handmade sterling accents, drawing your eye toward the carving without ever announcing itself. It’s balanced. Quiet. Confident.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is the kind of jewelry collectors build entire wardrobes around because it isn’t chasing a trend.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt belongs to a disappearing chapter of Southwestern jewelry, when master Navajo silversmiths still had access to substantial quantities of genuine Mediterranean coral.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eArtifact Registry\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eArtifact:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Last Harvest\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMaker:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Thomas Francisco (Pendant)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTribal Affiliation:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Navajo Nation\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMaterials:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Genuine Mediterranean precious coral (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCorallium rubrum\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e), sterling silver\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eConfiguration:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Vintage Thomas Francisco carved coral pendant paired with a graduated Mediterranean coral necklace\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNecklace Weight:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 38.8 grams\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNecklace Length - 20inches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePendant Weight:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 33.4 grams\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCombined Weight:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e72.2 grams\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEra:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Late 20th Century\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCollector’s Gallery Value:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e$2,800–3,600\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEstimated value for the complete suite offered through a premier Southwestern gallery or specialist Native American art dealer.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCurator’s Field Observation\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe strength of this suite lies in the marriage of two collector-worthy components. Thomas Francisco’s carved coral pendants are increasingly desirable on their own, while genuine Mediterranean coral necklaces with well-matched graduated beads have become increasingly difficult to assemble due to diminishing availability of fine untreated material. Together they present as an original, highly wearable collector ensemble.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEric’s Notes from the Field\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThere’s a huge difference between \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ered coral\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMediterranean precious coral.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMost people never learn it.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis isn’t dyed bamboo coral. It isn’t resin. It isn’t sponge coral.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is the material the old masters actually wanted.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI love that whoever assembled this didn’t overcomplicate it. They let the coral do the talking. The pendant has enough personality to stand on its own, and the necklace simply gives it the stage it deserves.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf you collect Southwestern jewelry long enough, you eventually stop chasing bigger stones and start chasing better materials.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is one of those pieces.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hespera Jewelry Co.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47777486864561,"sku":null,"price":1950.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0153\/9641\/files\/0475E5EF-1C4B-4759-BBB3-03A60659D50A.jpg?v=1785043582","url":"https:\/\/hespera.com\/products\/the-last-harvest-by-thomas-fransisco","provider":"Hespera Jewelry Co.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}