Depression Era Unique Santa Domingo Thunderbird Turquoise Round Tab Necklace 22"

Description: This historical Depression Era necklace from Santa Domingo is a true beauty. With the unique round tab pendants of turquoise and the red, black, and white Thunderbird, it creates a stunning statement piece that is perfect for any occasion. The necklace is 22 inches long not including the Thunderbird pendant (50.24 mm x 47.40 mm) and has a knot closure. The twine or twisted string appears to be cotten. It's handmade, stackable, and has a retro feel that will add character to any jewelry collection.Whether you're looking for a gift for Mother's Day, Christmas, Graduation, Anniversary, Father's Day, Birthday, Confirmation/Communion, or Valentine's Day, this necklace is sure to impress. Excellent vintage condition with a red chip missing from the lower right wing and the tip of the upper left wing. 52.69 gramsNote:From an article about thunderbird jewelry: "Born in the late 1920s, Thunderbird jewelry was partly a response to the increasing cost and scarcity of such traditional materials as shell and jet — and partly a response to seeing the new yet inexpensive Bakelite jewelry worn by so many visitors in the rapidly shrinking Depression-era tourist market. Soon the Santo Domingo Pueblo jewelry makers were meshing the nation's oldest native jewelry-making tradition with cheaper alternative materials, including black plastic salvaged from car batteries and 78-rpm vinyl records as well as colored plastic salvaged from hair combs, kitchenware and eating utensils. Since small turquoise chips remained readily available from local mines, the newly created Thunderbird form offered the jewelry makers a way to cut costs dramatically while still retaining one of the signature materials of an age-old tradition. Despite the adoption of new materials — which also included beads made of gypsum rather than shell — and the substitution of the Thunderbird figure for their traditional geometric forms, the conservative Santa Domingo Pueblo jewel makers continued to produce their wares in virtually the same way as before, using the same hand-made tools the culture had known for generations. They made holes with hand drills and punches just as their grandparents had, and they rolled beads into round shapes with stones whose use dated back even further. Duce Cement was the adhesive of choice for many of the families, whose members would cut, then piece their materials together using a variety of distinctive forms and patterns."

Price: 775 USD

Location: Cape May Court House, New Jersey

End Time: 2024-09-17T19:44:16.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD