This image shows a Pueblo Indian craftsman using a hand drill to make holes in pieces of turquoise for threading on to jewelry. The spiral bands around the upper shaft of the drill allow the jeweler to spin the drill bit quickly with a minimum of additional effort.
Genuine Curteich-Chicago “C.T. Art Colortone”
The description states:
No. 179 PUEBLO INDIAN
TURQUOISE DRILLER
Our scene shows the primitive method of drilling turquoise, which is a semi-precious stone peculiar to the southwest and worn by all tribes of Indians of this region at the time of the Spanish invasion. Great strings of valuable stones are worn about the neck, in ears and set in various articles of hand-wrought silver jewelry.
–There are several examples of the drillers work hanging around his neck, including both necklaces of carefully matched stones and variegated stones threaded into patterns.
This postcard dates from the 1940s.