Kewa (Santo Domingo) Pueblo Pre-Depression-Era Necklace [SOLD]

Most collectors of Native jewelry are familiar with the thunderbird necklaces made at Kewa Pueblo during the depression—those necklaces made from found materials and somewhat replicas of squash blossom necklaces with tabs interspersed between bone beads and a thunderbird or other bird pendant at the bottom of the necklace.  Before these thunderbird necklaces were made, the Kewa Pueblo jewelers created its predecessor—a similar necklace but not with any bird forms.

Those necklaces, like the one pictured here, are documented as existing as early as 1925 and were probably made even earlier.  They consisted of circular beads and white backing material made from a local source of gypsum or antler material, turquoise most likely from the Cerrillos mine, and jet.  According to the authors of the below referenced article, “only a small number of gypsum-backed pieces have been found. Gypsum is easy to work but fragile; its use for backings might have occurred during the transition from bone to plastic.”  A number of the necklaces were made with antler as backing material and bone for the beads.

This necklace is one of those made prior to the thunderbird necklaces and most likely dates to circa 1925 or earlier.  It is in original excellent condition.

NOTE: The Wheelwright Museum in Santa Fe is planning an exhibit of thunderbird jewelry during the summer of 2011.