This web site is dedicated to The American Indian jewelry
business
The American Indian jewelry business has it beginnings in the mid
1800's. At the time when the various tribes were moved to reservations,
it became apparent, in the Southwestern reservations, that the Indians
needed a profession. There were some weavers and some other artifact craftsmen.
The idea of a more salable line of products seemed the best way to go.
Personal jewelry came to the forefront. The Indian people were wearing
bright beaded clothing and feathers.
In the spring time flowers from squash and other blooming plants
were worn or given to loved ones.
The development of a profitable cottage industry became a priority. The solution was bringing in Spanish and Mexican silversmiths to teach the people the trade. The early silver jewelry was made from Mexican or US coin silver. the tools used were rather crude, a hammer, chisel were foremost. The early Indian jewelry was nothing like the jewelry of today. Most of the early jewelry was heavy and large. Time has advanced the quality and appearance of modern Indian jewelry. Some of the American Indian artist's work is as good as the much more acclaimed jewelry makers.
The use of turquoise with silver was a natural combination. The Indians
had used turquoise for personal adornment for many many years so it became
number one for jewelry use. Turquoise is considered to be a good luck stone
by many Indian folks. Many American Indians have a nugget of turquoise
in their medicine bag. To others it is simply pretty in an area where most
of the natural colors are earth tones. The other stones that have come
to be used with silver were coral, abalone, oyster shell, and mussel shell.
Yes, the Indian had sea shells and knew of the oceans. There was an extensive
trading network across North American prior to the arrival of the white
man. As time went on, other semi precious stones became popular. Some of
the other stones are malachite, lapis, and jett. In the last few years
more imported stones have appeared; such as gaspeite, charoite, sugilite,
amber, and amethyst. Today if you have a favorite stone it may be found
in American Indian jewelry..
The turquoise in their jewelry may be from Colorado, Arizona,
New Mexico, Mexico, Utah, Idaho, California, Nevada, and China; possibly
other countries such as Bolivia and Chili.
The stones may be natural, stabilized, blocked, and otherwise treated
to assure the lucky owner of the best possible appearance and durability.
The mounting are Sterling Silver, and will be marked sterling silver or
92.5, which is the US required percentage of silver, in the jewelry, to
be certified as Sterling silver. There are some pieces of indian made jewelry
that are not marked at all; this can be reservation made, or the artist
just didn't have stamps. A knowledgeable dealer can normally tell which
is or isn't the real McCoy.
There is list of Native American Jewelry artists here Page
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The styles may be Navajo or Zuni; Hopi artists normally do not use
stones in their jewelry.
There are other indian jewelry making artists that make southwestern
style jewelry, in the Navajo and Zuni styles, and of course
their own American Indian jewelry and southwestern jewelry styles.
The younger artists have ventured from the traditional styles and
other colored stones.
This web site will endeavor to show only southwestern turquoise,
Mexican turquoise, Chinese turquoise, also from United States mines, such
as Sleeping Beauty, Kings Manassa, Dry Creek, White Buffalo, Hitachi, New
Mine, Bisbee, Turquoise Mountain, Kingman, plus too many more to list.
This web site is composed of several native American works of art,
and are great examples of American Indian jewelry.
The turquoise from the various mines are usually identified by their
color and matrix pattern characteristics, however, there can be turquoise
from different mines that have the same or very similar colors.
The descriptions and mine indicated descriptions, used on this page,
are derived from the personal knowledge of the owners of American Indian
Jewelry; also from the advise and information obtained for several reservation
area old timers.
Here are some samples of jewelry
made by Indian jewelry artists
The American Indian jewelry
business Here Page
2 Page
4 Page
5 Page
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See a huge selection of Indian, southwestern, and contemporary
jewelry, at-
Brierlys American Indian
Jewelry.
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