Antique Bear Claw Necklace by Hugh Toenjes

Antique Bear Claw necklace with old trade silver cross by Hugh Toenjes. The bear claws are actually 20 years old while the other components are antique including the 12 faceted Russian cobalt beads. The white beads are old shell beads---maybe Native made? They are all stung on several strands of artificial sinue. The bear claws I harvested myself from a cinnamon colored bear in central B.C. about 1987. I was resident in Canada for 37 years and hunted big game in B.C. most of that time. This bear came out it's den and gave chase so it had to be shot. It was old so the claws were large for that type of bear. The hide was not worth saving so I salvaged the claws and most of it's fat for patch lube---I still have some! H.T.

Photos by Mitch Cook.