Gorget – Turtle centered & Two Bears – Sterling Silver

Description

Indigenous Woodland peoples of the Americas have been making gorgets since 200 years before current era (BCE). Originally intricately designed shell gorgets were made. When they started mining copper in the Americas, copper, then brass and silver gorgets were made.

This repoussé gorget was handmade by Paul René. It has a turtle in the middle and a bear on each side. Every turtle is a calendar, it has divisions on the back of the shell, which reminds us of the 13 moons. Around the rim of the shell are 28 divisions, representing 28 days. Around the design are symbols for medicine plants including the fiddle-head fern, the first plant that comes up in the spring, reminding us that new days are coming.

Each piece of silver and copper work made by Paul René includes his signature trademark, a sunrise with a drum in it.

This gorget is 6″ across and 2″ at the center, the curve makes in 2.5″ total in height. Shell, cobalt, and silver beads have been added.

Check out our other gorgets!