Navajo jewelry



Silver + Turquoise = Art!
The Navajo are famous in the Southwest for their classic jewelry work using silver and turquoise. Surprisingly, there is not much evidence of Navajo silverwork before contact with the Spanish. How did the Navajo learn this traditional art form? Where did they get the silver to work with? What did they do with the silver? Check out "stamping" & "casting." Where did the turquoise come from & how is it treated? What kinds of turquoise are there? What about hallmarks -- what are they? The Navajo have certain signature pieces -- squash blossom necklaces, conchos, ketohs. This is beautiful work...but it is more that that! Get into the history behind the craft. There are some great surprises if you dig deep into this topic... And another important thing to know is that Navajo jewelry is very different in style and technique from the various Pueblo jewelry styles. Be sure to go and explore Pueblo jewelry, too. You become the expert on Southwest jewelry...and to do that, you ought to know the difference between Navajo and Pueblo jewelry styles! Diversity, once again.... go to Pueblo jewelry
Bibliography Bahti. Southwestern Indians Baxter. “Navajo and Pueblo Jewelry, 1940 – 1970” American Indian Art. Autumn 1996 Dubin. North American Indian Jewelry and Adornment Eaton. Native American Art of the Southwest Handbook of the North American Indian (R 970.004 H19) Jacka, "Innovations in Southwestern Indian Jewelry" American Indian Art. Spring 1984 Jonaitis. Native North American Art Lindig. Navajo: Tradition and Change in the Southwest Native America Today (R 970.00497 P93n) Penney. Native American Art Warner. The Life and Art of North American Indians