Native American Silver Jewelry     by emanderso

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1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic (by 62 people)   Your rating: 1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic

Native American Silver Jewelry

A breif intro to the world of beautiful, whimsical and unique Native American made silver and turquoise jewelry. A handmade form of wearable art. Don't forget to stop by my ebay store Metal of the Moon Silver for more Native American and Mexican silver, vintage and new!

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Native American Silver Jewelry 

When did it all start?

Early Native American tribal peoples in the United States did not use silver until the entry of the Spanish and Mexicans into the southwest. They did use turquoise and other natural items but mostly as beads and pendants in necklaces and earrings. Some historians believe The first recorded use of silver by Native Americans was by the people we call the Navajo. They refer to themselves as "Dineh" meaning "the people" in the Dineh language. The Navajo or Dineh were fascinated by the silver metal and called it "Metal of the Moon". They began working in silver in the mid to late 1800's and became very skilled at making silver items with crude equipment and improvised tools. These items were made for their own use such as buttons, belts and adornments for bridles and saddles. This early pre-1900 silver work is very rare and considered priceless. There is a huge collection of pre-1900 Native made silver jewelry at the Heard Museum in Phoenix Arizona.

Navajo Style 

Lots of turquoise rocks and silver squash flowers!

The Navajo did not make jewelry for public consumption until around 1900. The first use of turquoise stone set in a silver setting is said to be by an early Navajo silversmith and is completely Native influenced. The silver jewelry they had already begun making was heavily influenced by Spanish and Mexican silver work. The popular squash blossom necklace with the large horse shoe shaped pendant is actually based on the moorish half moon design used by the Spanish. The flower shaped beads are also in the shape of the pomegranite flower which is a design used by the Spanish as an adornment on their clothing. The Navajo are also noted for the beautiful and ornate squash style on bracelets and pendants which consists of lovely silver leaves and squash flowers. This is sometimes referred to as Platero style. Platero, the Spanish word for silver worker, is another nod to Spanish/Mexican influence. Another style used and perfected by the Navajo is sandcasting silver forms using carved sandstone or tufa molds. Tufa is a form of lava rock that is abundant near where the Navajos live.

Here are some Navajo items on auction now on eBay 

These auction items are ending soon so bid now!

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More Navajo made items on eBay 

These items are in my Metal of the Moon eBay store.

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Zuni Style 

Intricate stone channel inlay and petit point

The Zuni people were introduced to silver work by a Pueblo silver smith. There is some argument over who first started using silver, Navajo or Pueblo but there is no real concensus. Zuni style jewelry is completely unique and there are several interesting styles they have created. They are the first to perfect stone inlay where the stones are cut to fit snuggly together in the silver setting to create a design. Later in the 1940's timeframe they perfected this technique with the more advanced channel inlay in which a silver mosaic is created and the stones cut to fit into the "channels" of the mosaic. They are also famous for their petit point style in which tiny stones are carefully cut and set in patterns, usually round or oblong.

Zuni made pieces on sale now! 

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More great Zuni made items! 

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Need an ebay account? 

You can sign up right here through this link!


Hopi Style 

Elegant sterling silver overlay featuring cutural motifs.

The people of Hopi began using silver in the early 1900's having been introduced to the metal by the Zuni. The Hopi also have a unique style they have evolved over time to make it their own. It is the silver overlay technique. Usually overlay style jewelry will have a blackened silver background over which is soldered a sheet of silver with cutout designs. There are many variations of thickness and texture making this a very rich and interesting type of jewlery. The Hopi style really came into it's own in the late 1940's and has been gaining popularity since then.

Hopi made pieces on sale now! 

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More great Hopi made items! 

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Conclusion 

It's time to start your own collection!

Native American peoples have taken a craft that was introduced to them barely 100 years ago and turned it into a fine art and lucrative investment for themselves and the world. These days not just Native American jewelry but the works of individual native artists themselves are highly sought after and collected. Shouldn't you start your collection today?

Metal of the Moon Silver Store 

Links to more silver jewelry!

Metal of the Moon Silver
Visit my ebay store "Metal of the Moon Silver" for more wonderful Native American silver items and others including Mexican and European Vintage. We also run auctions every week on Sundays and Thursdays. Check our site often for new items!
Buying Native American Jewelry Online
Visit my new lens on finding and buying Native American jewelry on line. I have listings there from my Metal of the Moon eCrater store as well!
Metal of the Moon on eCrater
Visit my eCrater store for more of the same great silver jewelry.

We recommend these informational books. 

1

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Southwestern Silver Jewelry by Paula A. Baxter

Southwestern Silver Jewelry by Paula A. Baxter

If you like reading about the history of this fabu more...0 points

2

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Hallmarks of the Southwest (Schiffer Book for Collectors) by Barton Wright

Hallmarks of the Southwest (Schiffer Book for Collectors) by Barton Wright

This is a great resource for finding individual Na more...0 points

4

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The Allure of Turquoise

The Allure of Turquoise

Everything you wanted to know about turquoise in a more...0 points

Nice magazines with a southwestern theme 

Magazines are great for keeping up with what is going on in the Native jewelry world.

Southwest Art (1-year)

Southwest Art (1-year)

Amazon Price: $27.00 (as of 07/11/2009) Buy Now

Art Jewelry

Art Jewelry

Amazon Price: $32.95 (as of 07/11/2009) Buy Now

Beautiful art photo note cards 

These beautiful drums were created by Native American teenagers!

These beautiful art cards are created from photos taken by our local Native American artisan Nochita. These drums were painted by Native American teens in his Native Culture and Arts class. The drums are gorgeous and these photos show their beauty in natural settings in Cochise County, Southern Arizona. All of these drums were sold to benefit Nochita's Native Culture and Arts classes for teens.
Native American Blank Greeting Card

Native American Blank Greeting Card

This is a medicine wheel drum in the colors of the 4 directions. This photo was taken on a tree trunk in Texas Canyon.

Native American Medicine Wheel and feather on drum in natural setting

Price: 5.00Buy Now

Native American Blank Note Cards (Pk of 10)

Native American Blank Note Cards (Pk of 10)

This drum was placed on one of the large granite rocks in Texas Canyon and photographed against the blue Arizona sky.

Native American design drum in Texas Canyon, Arizona

Price: 13.99Buy Now

Native American Blank Greeting Cards (Pk of 10)

Native American Blank Greeting Cards (Pk of 10)

The beautiful drum photo was taken in a creek in Texas Canyon after a summer rain storm. Notice the reflection in the water.

Native American Drum with feathers

Price: 16.99Buy Now

Native American Kachina face drum Tote Bag

Native American Kachina face drum Tote Bag

This drum photo was taken on a wall in the Lozen Gallery in Dragoon, Arizona. The rattle and drum beaters are all handmade.

Native American Kachina Spirit face design on drum with beater

Price: 14.99Buy Now

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Native American themed tshirts and such. 

Black T-Shirt

Black T-Shirt

From: NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURE

This tshirt is so cool. Fight Globalization - Buy Native American!

Price: 21.99 Buy Now

From:

The Yei is a spiritual being in Navajo mythology used in healing ceremonies. The full name is YeiBeiChei.

Price: 0.00 Buy Now

Art of Navajo Weaving Mini Poster Print

Art of Navajo Weaving Mini Poster Print

From: KennyZen.com Online Store

Navajo rugs too expensive? Buy this great poster with many different weaving designs to decorate your room!

Price: 9.95 Buy Now

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What is your favorite type of Native American jewelry? 

These styles are not written in stone for each of the tribal groups, sometimes Navajo will do inlay and Zuni will do overlay work... Just in general.

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Some of Our Reviews:
"Awesome. loads of native american history and knowledge. Navigate very easily. I love it and will vist often."
Royston
thriftyharry.com

"Nice website with very organized layout! Clear and concise. It surely helps promote your products! I also want to start squidoo. Wish you best!"
Otto
cafepress.com/tees_infinite

"Absolutely excellent - a very well done lens - you do lovely work!"
Holly
pursedivacouture.msmalls.com



To get your own reviews and loads of free traffic go to:

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I love to read your comments! Keep 'em coming!

Is there any other information you would like to see here? Let me know. I will be updating this lens and adding more interesting information often.

Lensmaster

debnet wrote...

Great Lens! I've lensrolled it to my Sacred Spirit lens :)

ReplyPosted July 07, 2008

Lensmaster

blonndie1965 wrote...

What a nice job - Your lens looks incredible! Can't wait to check out your links!

ReplyPosted May 12, 2008

Lensmaster

dan hamilton wrote

great page. love it

Reply Posted March 01, 2008

Lensmaster

chisumtrailmercantile wrote...

What a selection of various Native American jewelry - 5 stars for an informative lense

ReplyPosted January 03, 2008

Lensmaster

jtpratt wrote...

great lens! I give you 5 stars. Stop by and review my lens as well if you get the chance: Designer Handbag Whores

ReplyPosted November 26, 2007

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EvieJewelry wrote...

5 star lens. saw you on squidu discussion boards. lots of great information. Check us out for great jewelry.

ReplyPosted November 10, 2007

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Steve_Albert wrote...

I dig silver jewelry. Great lens. 5 stars! Check out my lenses and tell me what you think.


Have a good one!

ReplyPosted September 13, 2007

Lensmaster

Pierce_This_2 wrote...

Beautiful jewelry. Nice lens too. How to measure a belly button ring

ReplyPosted September 13, 2007

Lensmaster

allysa wrote...

beautiful jewelry and magical Native American tradition. Enchanting! I have a dream catcher at home but it's not silver :) 5* for you

ReplyPosted August 22, 2007

Lensmaster

LisaJesse wrote...

Hi! This is a great lens. I appreciate all the useful info.
Please visit my
2008 Jewelry Trends lens. Look foward to seeing more
from you! Thanks...... ~ LISA ~

ReplyPosted August 19, 2007

 
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