Featured Necklace with Claw, Bone, Silver Charms

I believe the dangles are real claws, possibly bone mounted in silver, and the center one is silver. The chain is not silver, but all the rest of the metal is silver.
Interested in origins, materials, age of this necklace. And, do you think it is original, or constructed from a chain and separate elements?
Thanks!

 

Not my area of expertise... but what a cool necklace! Do the two cone shaped ones "open"? Does the dangle on the left have slits that lead to an open area inside.... like if the end opens; you could put something smelly inside?? Can you tell what the dangle on the right is made of?? I don't know about the claws... they look "shaped" to me. My gut feeling is that it was all made to work together... I love the piece at any rate! Can hardly wait to hear what everyone else thinks!! Leslie

 

The cone shaped dangles don't open, and the carved lines don'e go all the way through.
I don't know what they are made of, they feel like a natural material, maybe wood, but I don't think so.

 

Nice! @Any Jewelry will be able to tell you much more than I can but I think they’re all Asian talismans/good luck charms and they look to have some age to me. The non claw shapes remind me of prayer wheels or some similar religious objects.

 

I am sorry, I have no idea. Maybe it helps if we know how big the claws are, so someone can identify the animal they are from?

 

the Mayas used jaguar claws as sign of strength etc,

 

or bear claws.
https://www.bearcountrystudio.com/c...aw-and-sterling-silver-cross-pendant-necklace

 

Just about every culture used claws as a sign of strength, power, status etc. at some stage.

 

Thank you for the comments and ideas. The claws are about 1.5 inches long. Here are some better photos.

 

Thanks. I don't know if they are actual claws. They could be carved blonde buffalo horn. Maybe South Asia: India or Sri Lanka?

What do you think about the claws @komokwa ?

 

I agree. The horizontal lines on the side of one claw in your last photo is suspicious. Plus, they have a squared off shape, which is strange.

 

Ya, they're in the shape of claws......but don't pass the muster for real claws...

but they do have a natural material look...so shaped horn......could be spot on..!

 

Thanks. Agree, they don't look like real claws.

 

the real bear ones came up in the 60s with the hippies. as were all kinds of American Indian jewellery. especially after Wounded Knee in 1973 they became a sign of freedom and self-determination.
the only ones that come out of Asia are the usual krapp on Ali-Baboon and other platforms.

 

Most Native American claw jewellery is Navajo, and they were making it before 1973.

These are Asian, I wouldn't call them 'krap' in any way:


https://www.rom.on.ca/en/blog/new-to-rom-tiger-claw-necklace



https://www.abrandtandson.com/products/victorian-raj-18kt-gold-repousse-tiger-claw-necklace




drg, this style is why I thought your necklace could be South Asian. Two of your 'claws' have similar caps in silver:

https://www.abrandtandson.com/products/1-victorian-raj-14kt-gold-tiger-claw-pendant

 

Lovely examples AJ, thank you. I see what you mean about the caps on the claws.

 

A true, traditionalist Navajo person would not make jewelry using bear claws. The bear is a revered personage, and accorded the reverence and respect of a sacred being. As a Navajo jeweler once told me, "I would no more wear a bear claw around my neck, than I would wear a necklace made from my grandfather's fingers."

The majority of "Navajo bear claw" jewelry is made by non-Navajo tribes/cultures for whom the bear is viewed differently, or by non-Native Americans, or it is imported from other countries.

 

The NWC 1st Nations revered the bear as a high born ancestor ...

 

Great info. Thank you so much everyone, appreciate your time in posting links and providing explanations. I am always grateful that board members here are willing to share their considerable expertise.