Kewa Very Early Depression Era Found Materials Necklace [SOLD]

When one thinks of necklaces made at Santo Domingo Pueblo during the United States depression of the early 1920s, one thinks of found materials of Cerrillos turquoise, automobile battery casings, red plastics, and sun-dried bones. It was this style necklace that was being made to sell to visitors for a meager sum. It is not likely that this was created specifically to sell to visitors, but existed even earlier than the depression, made for use by pueblo people.

This necklace has all the traits of an earlier one, a style made to be worn by a pueblo person. It does appear that the white backing and white heishi are sun-dried bone, the turquoise is probably remnants from Cerrillos turquoise used for other jewelry, and the black could possibly be automobile battery casings, however the finished product does not have the sophistication of something made to be sold for the maximum return. It has the look and age of one made to be lovingly worn during a ceremonial dance at the pueblo. It is the earliest example of this style we have seen. A date of 1920 is reasonable.

Condition: very good condition with normal wear patterns

Provenance: this Kewa Very Early Depression Era Found Materials Necklace is from a resident of New Mexico

Recommended Reading: Santo Domingo Pueblo Jewelry by Sally and J. Roderick Moore in The Magazine Antiques, Brant Publications, Inc. July 2009, vol. CLXXVI, no. 1. pp. 56-61.

TAGS: Southwest Indian Jewelry, KEWA, Santo Domingo Pueblo