Length: 26″
Pendant: 2 3/8″ L x 2″ W
Bead Width: 5mm
Tribe: Santo Domingo Pueblo

After the 1929 stock market crash and the subsequent Great Depression, particularly the 1930’s – 1950’s, traditional jewelry materials such as jet, shell and turquoise were hard to find. Santo Domingo Pueblo artists became resourceful and began repurposing found items such as old car battery casings, records, turquoise chips, hair combs, and even plastic dinner plates into “Depression Necklaces”. Families often worked together creating distinct designs, but due to the timeframe, without hallmarks. Conveniently located between the Santa Fe railway and highway, Santo Domingo Pueblo artists benefited from tourist traffic. The lightweight, brightly colored innovative designs became a tradition and now collected for historical value.