Haida Bear Mother Sterling Silver Pendant - Native American Jewelry for Women, Handcrafted Tribal Necklace - Perfect for Gifts, Ceremonies & Cultural Events

Product Description

This Bear Mother Pendant has been expertly hand-carved in yew wood by the Haida Master Carver Ron Russ. Yew is a type of hardwood from Haida Gwaii that can be found in small quantities on the islands. It is often employed by Haida carvers for intricate fine jewelry work and small carvings. The pendant features abalone inlays in the eyes of both the noblewoman and her bear hat, along with an 18 karat gold inlay representing the labret.

The Bear Mother story is a legend shared by many people on the Northwest Coast, most notably the Haida, Nisga’a, Gitxsan, and Coast Tsimshian. It tells the story of a woman who disrespected the bears when she was out berry picking, who was subsequently kidnapped and forced to marry the son of a bear chief. She gives birth to twin bear cubs who inherit a mix of human and bear features. The story emphasizes the importance of honouring and respecting animals, and deals with the subject of transformation and travel between the human and non-human worlds.

- The Bill Reid Centre, Simon Fraser University

The pendant measures approximately 3 1/4 inches or 8 1/4 centimeters high, 2 3/8 inches or 6 centimeters wide, and about 1/2 of an inch or 1 1/4 centimeters thick.