Maine Antique Digest April 2015

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30-B Maine Antique Digest, April 2015
- FEATURE -
Thunderbirds: Jewelry of the Santo Domingo Pueblo
The exhibition Thunderbirds: Jewelry of the Santo
Domingo Pueblo will open at the Abby Aldrich
Rockefeller Folk Art Museum (one of the Art
Museums of Colonial Williamsburg) on June 27 and
remain on view through September 5, 2016.
Guest-curated by J. Roderick and Sally Moore of
the Blue Ridge Institute at Ferrum College, Ferrum,
Virginia, the art show will include over 100 pieces of
jewelry in the form of “handmade necklaces, earrings,
bolo ties, hair clips…as well as early period photography
and tools and materials used by Santo Domingo artists,”
according to the exhibition press release.
“Economic conditions in the 1930s led to the creation
of jewelry made from non-traditional materials such
as car batteries, along with the use of the thunderbird
motif.” The people of the Santo Domingo Pueblo in New
Mexico created this jewelry, which has received little
attention until now. Sometimes called Depression jew-
elry, thunderbird jewelry is a true folk art.
According to Roddy Moore, “…during the Great
Depression, the Santo Domingo people found a way to
survive economically by creating a new style of afford-
able jewelry that appealed to a declining tourist market.
Based on their traditional methods of jewelry making,
they actually created a new tradition by using their cre-
ativity and available materials.”
This pair of Victorian enamel and 14k gold bangle
bracelets sold for $1625 (est. $1400/1800). Freeman’s.
Two matching 7" long Victorian flexible and adjustable buckle-motif
enamel and 14k gold bracelets with tassel accents realized $2470 (est.
$1800/2500). Freeman’s.
Virginia Salem said this circa
1915 Bailey Banks & Bid-
dle aquamarine, diamond,
and platinum ring, signed
“BB & B,” “was a great plat-
inum and aquamarine period
piece. The BB and B signa-
ture made it a solid purchase
for someone looking for an
original beautiful ring.” It
sold for $3072 (est. $500/700).
Freeman’s.
This 1¼" long step-cut aquamarine, round bril-
liant-cut diamond, and 18k white gold pendant,
accompanied by a 24" long silver chain, “was prob-
ably purchased for the extremely large aquama-
rine,” according to Salem. It realized $2125 (est.
$1000/1500). Freeman’s.
This diamond and platinum
ring with an approximately
0.40-carat pear-shaped dia-
mond accented by full- and
single-cut diamonds real-
ized $2816 (est. $700/900).
Freeman’s.
This opal, ruby, diamond, and 18k gold
ring was the top lot of the Freeman’s
sale at $5313 (est. $2250/3250). Salem
explained, “This piece was strong
because of the exceptional opal—it was
lively and quite large.” Freeman’s.
This 17" long diamond, onyx, mother-of-pearl,
and gold-plated pendant necklace by Erté sold
well above the high estimate for $4375 (est.
$700/900). Freeman’s.
This 2¾" long enamel, seed pearl, and
18k gold pocket watch, with the name
“Viguet” signed on the face, saw lots of
interest and sold above the high esti-
mate for $4480 (est. $1800/2500). Salem
explained that “lovely enamel work is
extremely coveted in certain circles.”
Freeman’s.
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