The Totem Post

The Totem Post
A unique jewelry and gift shop with gifts from around the world.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Navajo Jewelry

One of the main reasons I wanted to do this blog was to help customers understand Native American Indian jewelry. It is such a wonderful American art form and deserves recognition as such. It seems logical to start by discussing Navajo silversmithing.

The Navajo began working with silver in the mid 1800's when a Mexican introduced it to them. And soon many Navajo were creating simple earrings, bracelets and buckles. By the 1920's traders brought new influences to the Navajo in the form of better tools, silver coins, and stones. So production increased. The Navajo nation is large and over time several styles emerged. In general, Navajo typically do intricate silverwork by stamping, sandcasting, or tooling the silver. They also love the beauty of stones and will often use the silverwork to frame a beautiful stone such as turquoise, coral, lapis lazuli or petrified wood. They like larger pieces which display craftsmanship, but also do small pieces. Silverwork now comes in the form of squash blossom necklaces, silver bead necklaces, pendants, concho belts, rings, earrings, buckles, bracelets, pins, bolo ties, money clips,and even boxes and figurines. Contemporary artists are now creating works of art using old techniques and giving them a new twist. You can see some of the new works in magazines such as Native Peoples.

No comments:

Post a Comment