Necklace - Sterling Silver Hammered Collar with Two Swirls by Kathy "Elk Woman" Whitman (Mandan, Hidatsa & Arikara)

Kathy Whitman hammered the sterling silver in this unusual neck collar to give it a sculptural look.  It opens in the front, and the ends swirl up. It is a dramatic piece that can be worn by itself, or with a pendant hanging from the longer end. 

A self-taught painter and sculptor, Kathy was given the name "Elk Woman" at a Sun Dance Ceremony in South Dakota in 1977.  The elk, an animal with great endurance and grace, is associated with love, and Kathy says that, "I try to capture that great healing power of love in all my work."

For more information on Kathy Whitman, see our Highlight of the Month for May 2005.