p.s. Is necklace lady a Vanderbilt? If so, which one?
GLoria Vanderbilt is shown in the photo with the wall art and her two sons, one of whom is Anderson Cooper.
I believe the best description of that necklace is in the drop itself - I’ll repost the text below. The large Pinterest photo of the same kind of necklace makes it possible to see that the design in the center piece is a head shown in profile - so this one is not so much an organization but a religion. Note the necklace features “milagros” which can be interpreted as miracle or “SACRIFICE”. The wall art shows a human sacrifice presided over by, among other things, the wife of Baal, the Phoenician god. I really gotta hope she doesn’t collect a charm per “special” sacrifice or something like that.....*shudder*
From the drop:
Guatemalan Silver Charm Necklace, 1980s Long Wedding Necklace with MILAGROS, Metal Beads, Cowgirl Southwest, First Peoples 30” plus large coin w charms pendant ( 76.2cm ) The pendant is 5” long x 2 1/2”wide ( 12.7cm x 6.35cm ) There are beads and many animal dangles hanging off the double chain strands, the charms are called MILAGROS Lion, duck, quetzal bird, Swallow bird, Deer, Fish and goddess( center bottom ) The necklace and dangles are all silver color metal and most are in excellent condition and actually, still shiny, Purchased in 1990s in Gallup New Mexico at a pawn shop where I was attending the Inter-Tribal Indian festival I was told that this was a Guatemalan Wedding necklace. ???? it was a personal piece but I have become allergic to all metals so this is now up for grabs! Maybe worn 2 times..
*>>MILAGROS are small metal religious charms found in many areas of Latin America, especially Guatemala & Mexico. The word “Milagro” means “miracle”or Offering( Exvotos). These small charms, often depicting arms, legs, praying people, farm animals and a wide range of other subjects are typically nailed or pinned to crosses or wooden statues of various saints like the Virgin Mary or Christ, sacred objects, pinned on the clothing of saint statues, or hung with little red ribbons or threads from altars and shrines. They are also carried for protection and good luck and thanks to Saints and Their animals.
The 1848 repro Coin pendant is of José Rafael Carrera Turcios was the president of Guatemala from 1844 to 1848 and from 1851 until his death in 1865, after being appointed President for Life in 1854.