Kewa Santo Domingo Depression Era Thunderbird Mosaic Necklace
$795.00
Kewa Santo Domingo Depression Era Thunderbird Mosaic Necklace
This necklace is made from turquoise, hard rubber, and plastic, and is typical of necklaces made during the 1930’s by Santo Domingo mosaic artists. The handmade beads are likely gypsum, though they are polished more than other gypsum necklaces we’ve seen. Scroll down to see further description of this genre as well as links to articles.
The cotton cord the necklace was strung on when we received it had broken. It is now restrung on durable white silk cord. We have not knotted the cord yet, as was the custom; we will knot it or add a clasp per the purchaser’s request.
Necklace is 28 inches long. Bird pendant is 2 1/2 inches high x 1 3/4 inches wide.
During the Great Depression, from the 1930s and partially through the 1940s, it was often difficult for Native American jewelry makers to purchase what they had until then considered authentic materials, such as jet. As a result, resourceful Kewa (Santo Domingo Pueblo) mosaic artists began substituting other materials, including battery casings and LP records. This innovation quickly became a tradition and is now admired and collected for its historic value as well as its beauty.
El Palacio’s online magazine describes the history of this new tradition: Santo Domingo Pueblo’s Depression Jewelry.
Indian Country Today describes an exhibit of this work at the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum at Colonial Williamsburg: Ugly Junk into Beautiful Jewelry?
The Wheelwright Museum in Santa Fe gives a brief description of their exhibit of this work in 2011 – 2012: Thunderbird Jewelry of Santo Domingo.
In stock
Kewa Santo Domingo Depression Era Thunderbird Mosaic Necklace
This necklace is made from turquoise, hard rubber, and plastic, and is typical of necklaces made during the 1930’s by Santo Domingo mosaic artists. The handmade beads are likely gypsum, though they are polished more than other gypsum necklaces we’ve seen. Scroll down to see further description of this genre as well as links to articles.
The cotton cord the necklace was strung on when we received it had broken. It is now restrung on durable white silk cord. We have not knotted the cord yet, as was the custom; we will knot it or add a clasp per the purchaser’s request.
Necklace is 28 inches long. Bird pendant is 2 1/2 inches high x 1 3/4 inches wide.
During the Great Depression, from the 1930s and partially through the 1940s, it was often difficult for Native American jewelry makers to purchase what they had until then considered authentic materials, such as jet. As a result, resourceful Kewa (Santo Domingo Pueblo) mosaic artists began substituting other materials, including battery casings and LP records. This innovation quickly became a tradition and is now admired and collected for its historic value as well as its beauty.
El Palacio’s online magazine describes the history of this new tradition: Santo Domingo Pueblo’s Depression Jewelry.
Indian Country Today describes an exhibit of this work at the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum at Colonial Williamsburg: Ugly Junk into Beautiful Jewelry?
The Wheelwright Museum in Santa Fe gives a brief description of their exhibit of this work in 2011 – 2012: Thunderbird Jewelry of Santo Domingo.
| Weight | 1 lbs |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 10 × 10 × 6 in |
| Color | 1 |
