Bisbee Turquoise Necklace with Mosaic Inlay Thunderbird Santo Domingo

Our Bisbee Turquoise Necklace with Mosaic Inlay Thunderbird brings together two extraordinary works of Santo Domingo Pueblo (Kewa Pueblo) artistry, each carrying its own story. The strand is made from beautiful old Bisbee turquoise that belonged to the grandmother of a female Santo Domingo artisan. She inherited a treasured stash of the stone, and Jean Marie had the opportunity to acquire this strand through the special relationship she has developed with her. Jean Marie then paired it with this remarkable Thunderbird pendant, creating a one-of-a-kind necklace in which stone, family history, symbolism, and contemporary Pueblo craftsmanship come together.

Bisbee turquoise is among the most sought-after American turquoise today. Much of the material associated with Bisbee came from the Lavender Pit copper mine in Bisbee, Arizona, where important turquoise deposits were encountered during twentieth-century copper mining. The pit ceased production in the 1970s, and Bisbee turquoise is no longer being mined there, meaning the material available today comes largely from older collections and carefully preserved stashes such as this one.  Known for its saturated blue-to-blue-green color and distinctive dark or reddish-brown matrix, fine Bisbee has become increasingly difficult to find. In this necklace, its provenance through the artisan’s grandmother makes the stones especially meaningful, they represent not simply rare turquoise, but material saved and passed from one generation to another.

At the center is a dramatic mosaic inlay Thunderbird, handmade by a male Santo Domingo artisan who specializes in exceptionally fine inlay work and works alongside his father, continuing knowledge within his own family. Tiny pieces of turquoise, shell, jet and other colorful materials are individually cut and fitted together to create the pendant’s intricate geometric surface. Santo Domingo artists have a documented history of creating distinctive Thunderbird jewelry using painstaking hand-cut and inlaid materials, making the form an important part of Pueblo jewelry history. The Thunderbird itself carries powerful associations throughout Native traditions, though meanings vary among communities. It is often connected with the upper world, storms and life-giving rain: its wings evoke thunder, while lightning is associated with its eyes or beak. As a powerful sacred presence, it can also suggest protection, strength, and the balance of the natural world.

For Jean Marie, putting these two pieces together was about more than creating a beautiful necklace. It was about honoring two Santo Domingo artisans, two family stories, and two highly skilled traditions in one statement piece. Her close relationships with the artists allow her to understand where pieces come from and the people and histories behind them. When you purchase jewelry like this through us, you are helping patronize working Native artisans and support the continuation of handmade Pueblo jewelry traditions, while acquiring something with a story that mass-produced jewelry simply cannot offer. The rarity of old Bisbee turquoise combined with the extraordinary mosaic work makes this a truly singular piece, one meant to be worn, appreciated, and eventually passed forward again.

Length 17"

Pendant 2" round