Dean Brown Navajo Carved Turquoise and Sterling Silver Thunderbird Necklace - This stunning necklace was created by Navajo artisan, Dean Brown. The necklace features a massive carved turquoise Thunderbird that was hand carved by a master craftsman, with a body in the center and two wings with a sterling silver backing. The wings are hinged so they move slightly and will 'curve or bend' with the line of your neck. The bird also has sterling silver talons and the necklace is comprised of five strands of turquoise beads. The piece is marked with Brown's "DB" maker's mark and "Sterling". This necklace comes from a collection which has been housed in a vault for over 40 years. According to our seller, her parents started in the Native American jewelry business in 1972, and the family would travel to the New Mexico Native American reservations and purchase pieces directly from the tribes. They eventually went into the gold jewelry business and have kept these pieces in their private collection for over 40 years. Measurements: 25" length, 5" bird wingspan. Condition: Overall excellent estate condition with very light signs of wear. (WEIGHT: 76.3 grams)