A remarkable, museum-quality example of Depression-era Native American artistry, this larger Thunderbird necklace dates to the 1940s, when artists transformed salvaged materials such as records, car battery casings, and red plastic dinnerware into striking works of wearable art. Rich in intricate mosaic details, this exceptional piece is both historically fascinating and wonderfully wearable. Particularly unusual is the red, geometric shape on the side of the Thunderbird’s head, interpreted in the traditional iconographic language of Kewa Pueblo (Santo Domingo Pueblo) as the bird’s crest or plumes. Rather than projecting as individual feathers, the crest is rendered as a sleek, flush block that follows the mosaic’s geometric design.

Did You Know:

“The Thunderbird is a widespread figure in Native American mythology in the United States and Canada.

Described as a supernatural being, the enormous bird symbolized power and strength that protected humans from evil spirits. It was called the Thunderbird because the flapping of its powerful wings sounded like thunder, and lightning would shoot out of its eyes. The Thunderbirds brought rain and storms, which could be good or bad. Good – when the rain was needed, or bad when the rain came with strong, destructive winds, floods, and fires caused by lightning.

The bird was so large that several legends say it picked up a whale in its talons. They were said to have bright and colorful feathers, sharp teeth, and claws. They were said to live in the clouds high above the tallest mountains.“