We all know that beautifying oneself and the use of jewelry has been around since the prehistoric times. Bead making and bead necklaces called heishe, which have been derived from the Santo Domingo word for shell, have been used for ages. Shells like the spiny oyster shell, mother of pearl, abalone, conch and clam have been used in bead making and have been considered important trade items of the southwest for more than thousand years.
The use of silver in Native American jewelry is not an old concept. It has been used since the early 1850s, when the Mexican silversmiths had to trade their silver trinkets for the cattle from the Navajo. The Navajo blacksmiths then in turn exchanged their skill of silver making with the Zuni Indians for livestock. The Hopi tribe then picked up the art of silver making from the Zuni in the 1890s. It is important to note that the Native Americans in no way were linked with mining of the silver.
The styles of jewelry used by the Native American Indians:
Each Native American Indian tribe has its own distinct style. Do not be confused by jewelry that is claimed to be Native American Indian but does not have the Navajo, Zuni, Hopi or Santo Domingo styles. The Zuni Indian jewelry includes styles and techniques such as mosaic, channel inlay, cluster, needlepoint and petit point. These techniques involve the use of a variety of stones and shells.
The Navajo Indian jewelers are well known for their popular squash blossom necklaces. These jewelry artists are known to use pieces of turquoise, coral and other semi-precious stones and then these are surrounded by scrolls, beads and leaf patterns set in sterling silver. Did you know that most of the Native American jewelry produced is made by the Navajos? Their jewelry is the most popular because of the use of sterling silver and stones like coral and turquoise.
The overlay technique is the distinct style of the Hopi Indian Silversmiths. This is the technique that is used involving the setting stones in jewelry making. One sheet of silver has the design etched out and then it is soldered or overlaid onto the second sheet. The background is given a darker touch via oxidizing and the top layer is polished.
Bead jewelry is popular among the Santo Domingo Indians and they have been making this kind of jewelry for centuries. They use seashells, turquoise, jet and coral stones in their jewelry. As mentioned before, the jewelry is all made with sterling silver, which is normally a mix of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. And the reason copper is added to the mix is because silver is very soft and the copper gives it more strength to develop different shapes and textures.
Southwest America is a great place to find great Native American Indian jewelry. The Navajo tribe is in Arizona and New Mexico and can be easily called the largest Native American Indian reservation. The Hopi tribe is also in Arizona, whereas the Santo Domingo and Zuni Pueblo are in New Mexico.
The skills and art of Native American Indian jewelry making is passed down generations and is quite coveted. Now there are schools that teach these skills to people who want to learn. Native American Indian Jewelry is a great way to make a bold style statement.
No items matching your keywords were found.
 |
Native American Earrings |
|
Catch sweet dreams with these for accent. Native American Earrings features a dream catcher style with feather accents and turquoise bead detailing. |
 |
Sterling Silver Native American Earrings with Feathers and Stones |
 |
Native American Sterling Silver Earrings Handmade |
|
Authentic hand made earrings with genuine blue turquoise or lapis or Corals or Malachite beads with sterling silver feathers Handmade by Navajo silversmith . These are just stunning earrings with dangle french hooks and measures approximately 1 1/4" long and has two feathers in each earring with sterling concho top... |
 |
Native American Sterling Silver and Red Coral Stone Dangle Earrings in Raindrop Teardrop Shape List Price: $49.99 Sale Price: $33.00 |
|
Authentic, and Unique handcrafted hook Earrings are made with red coral stone inlay set in sterling silver plate and connected to french hooks Stones measures about 1" in length at the widest part |
 |
Special Edition Barbie 1993 Dolls of the World 12 Inch Doll Collection - Second Edition Native American Barbie Doll with Native American Dress, Boots, Ring, Earrings, Brush and Doll Stand Sale Price: $19.00 |
|
Special Edition Barbie 1993 Dolls of the World 12 Inch Doll Collection - Second Edition Native American Barbie Doll with Native American Dress, Boots, Ring, Earrings, Brush and Doll Stand |
 |
Photo Jigsaw Puzzle of Sioux Native American, C1900. Joe Black Fox, A Sioux Native American From from Granger Art on Demand Sale Price: $24.99 |
|
Photo Puzzle, SIOUX NATIVE AMERICAN, c1900. Joe Black Fox, a Sioux Native American from. SIOUX NATIVE AMERICAN, c1900. Joe Black Fox, a Sioux Native American from Buffalo Bills Wild West Show. Photographed by Gertrude K |
 |
Photo Jigsaw Puzzle of Silent Film Still Natives from Granger Art on Demand Sale Price: $24.99 |
|
Photo Puzzle, SILENT FILM STILL NATIVES. SILENT FILM STILL NATIVES. Chosen by Granger Art on Demand. 10x14 Photo Puzzle with 252 pieces. Packed in black cardboard box of dimensions 5 5/8 x 7 5/8 x 1 1/5... |
 |
Jewelry Making & Beading For Dummies List Price: $19.99 Sale Price: $8.98 Used From: $6.15 |
|
Features step-by-step projects and full-color examplesCreate unique jewelry to wear with everything from jeans to a ball gown!Want to make your own jewelry? This easy-to-follow guide gives you lots of hands-on instruction in making simple, fabulous jewelry and working with beads... |
 |
The Big Book of Beading Patterns: For Peyote Stitch, Square Stitch, Brick Stitch, and Loomwork Designs List Price: $21.95 Sale Price: $13.66 Used From: $12.20 |
|
The Big Book of Beading Patterns is the go-to compendium of patterns for all types of stitchers. Many pattern books focus solely on loomwork, but this book also includes popular stitches like peyote, brick, and square stitch in addition to loomwork... |
 |
Creative Native American Beading: Contemporary Interpretations of Traditional Motifs List Price: $16.95 Sale Price: $8.31 Used From: $6.85 |
|
Following her successful Native American Beadwork, Theresa Flores Geary offers up another beautiful collection of traditional beaded projects, all using contemporary tools and materials. The techniques range from simple stringing and Apache Weave to Circular Peyote Stitch... |
