Old Antique Kewa / Santo Domingo Pueblo Indian Thunderbird Bird Necklace 1940s

  

It is still strung on the original string. The Thunderbird measures 2" by 2" across. The 8 pendants along the sides measure approximately 1 tall.

The necklace measures approximately 19 when stretched out. This necklace is in great antique condition.

For hundreds of years Native Americans of the Santo Domingo Pueblo (now known by its traditional name, Kewa) were known for their exquisite shell, turquoise, and jet jewelry made and traded throughout the Southwest. During the Depression - beginning in the 1920s - their traditional materials became scarce and artists began to look for other materials. Discarded car batteries became a substitute for traditional black jet. Batteries were soon augmented with broken phonograph records and bright colored celluloid from combs and other household goods.

By the 1930s Santo Domingo had developed a unique style of folk-art jewelry, made entirely of repurposed and found materials: sun-bleached animal bone, local gypsum, tiny chips of turquoise, and modern plastics. Gathered in rangelands, trash dumps, salvage yards, and dime stores, these unlikely items formed the basis of a new economic enterprise for the pueblo.

Whole families took part in the manufacture of these whimsical, colorful necklaces whose signature motif was a Thunderbird with outstretched wings. We guarantee all of our Native American Indian items to be AUTHENTIC American Indian traditional arts. To see more vintage Native American jewelry. This item is in the category "Collectibles\Cultures & Ethnicities\Native American: US\1800-1934\Jewelry". The seller is "gwhitetrading" and is located in this country: US.

This item can be shipped to United States, Ireland, Netherlands, Sweden, Iceland, Belgium, Israel, Switzerland, Austria, Norway, Greenland, United Kingdom, France, Denmark, Vatican City State, Canada, Japan, Finland, Luxembourg, Germany.

1. Tribal Affiliation: Santo Domingo
2. Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
3. Culture: Native American: US
4. Handmade: Yes