I acquired this vintage 10 tab Thunderbird necklace from Santo Domingo Pueblo artist Trinidad Garcia, who descends from a long line of skilled potters and jewelers; she remembers this necklace being worn by family members (and herself!) throughout the years but couldn't recall by whom it was made... likely her father, Benito, who was a well-known jeweler. Regardless, it survives as a stunning example of a very unique form of craft that originated in Santo Domingo in the 1930's but continued through the 1950's before the style apparently fell out of favor with the artisans...

"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 or coral. As a result, resourceful Santo Domingo Pueblo artists began substituting other materials often found discarded along the Santa Fe railway line that ran through Pueblo lands, including plastic battery casings, cafeteria trays, brightly colored celluloid from combs, LP records and any other hard plastic material that might fill in for the precious stones that had long been used in Santo Domingo mosaic jewelry. Small chips of real turquoise that, in more bountiful times would have been discarded, were saved and worked into the designs. This innovation quickly became a tradition in the Pueblo and is now admired and collected for its historic value as well as its beauty."

This charming Thunderbird pendant measures 2 1/2" tall. The 10 "tabs" range from 1 1/4" to 1 1/2" long. The necklace, when unclasped and measured straight, measures 28 3/4" long. The beads are hand-cut and drilled and are either traditional shell heishi, or locally mined gypsum (a hard marble-like stone); The tabs and Thunderbird are made up of assorted vintage found plastics and real turquoise chips. Trinidad believes her father may have restrung it some years ago, as the cord appears very sturdy and well-knotted at the soldered sterling silver clasps. This is a charming, ready-to-wear example of a sought-after local Indigenous art form that looks great on gals and fellas alike! The overall scale of this piece is a little larger than is often seen, making it a terrific statement piece!