People have been adorning themselves with jewelry since the dawn of time. Today the industry is worth billions of dollars and necklaces, bracelets, earrings and other pieces are essential fashion accessories to complete your look. If you want something that is not only unique but also versatile, you may want to consider investing in some Navajo jewelry.
The Navajo people, or the Dine as they call themselves, have lived in the American Southwest for several centuries. Today they form the largest of the Native American tribes in the country. New Mexico and Arizona have the largest Dine populations but a significant number of Dine also live in Utah.
Unlike the Plains Tribes with their elaborate beadwork, the Dine are known mostly for the stunning silver and turquoise jewelry they make. However, the use of silver is a fairly recent development in the people's history. Before they learnt how to work with this metal, their adornments usually came to them through trade or conquest and leather, brass and copper were materials that featured much more prominently.
In the mid-19th century, a tribesman called Atsidi Sani changed things. He had been a blacksmith and some say that he was the tribe's first smith. While this cannot be proved for certain, what is certain is that he was their first silversmith. His name in fact translates as Old Smith. He learnt his blacksmith skills from Nakai Tsosi, a Mexican, and taught this skill not only his four sons but also to other tribesmen.
To get their materials, the Dine smiths often used everyday objects and transformed them into new items. For instance, they could hammer a silver dollar into a completely new shape and often used these to make disks known as conchas, which adorned belts. They also learnt how to carve molds from sandstone and then melted things like candlesticks to get the silver that they could cast into new shapes.
The squash blossom necklace is typical of the Dine's designs. Beads were copied to look like the buttons on the pants of Spanish and Mexican horse-riders but got their name from their resemblance to squash blossoms. These beads are used along with round ones to create necklaces. A pendant is then added to form a striking centerpiece. This pendant has a horseshoe shape and is known as a 'naja'.
Today there are several Dine jewelers who make beautiful handmade pieces. However, it's good to keep in mind that there are dealers who sell pieces mass-produced in other countries and pretending that these are of Navajo origin. If the price seems too good to be true, it probably means that you're not looking at the real thing. Look out for the artist's hallmark, usually on the back of the piece, and familiarize yourself with the characteristics of authentic pieces before you buy.
Buying authentic Navajo jewelry means that you're investing in quality, providing a skilled local artist with an income and boosting the American economy. The best places to look for pieces are from the artists themselves or from Four Corners galleries and antique stores selling native American crafts. You may also find items online and have them delivered to you.
The Navajo people, or the Dine as they call themselves, have lived in the American Southwest for several centuries. Today they form the largest of the Native American tribes in the country. New Mexico and Arizona have the largest Dine populations but a significant number of Dine also live in Utah.
Unlike the Plains Tribes with their elaborate beadwork, the Dine are known mostly for the stunning silver and turquoise jewelry they make. However, the use of silver is a fairly recent development in the people's history. Before they learnt how to work with this metal, their adornments usually came to them through trade or conquest and leather, brass and copper were materials that featured much more prominently.
In the mid-19th century, a tribesman called Atsidi Sani changed things. He had been a blacksmith and some say that he was the tribe's first smith. While this cannot be proved for certain, what is certain is that he was their first silversmith. His name in fact translates as Old Smith. He learnt his blacksmith skills from Nakai Tsosi, a Mexican, and taught this skill not only his four sons but also to other tribesmen.
To get their materials, the Dine smiths often used everyday objects and transformed them into new items. For instance, they could hammer a silver dollar into a completely new shape and often used these to make disks known as conchas, which adorned belts. They also learnt how to carve molds from sandstone and then melted things like candlesticks to get the silver that they could cast into new shapes.
The squash blossom necklace is typical of the Dine's designs. Beads were copied to look like the buttons on the pants of Spanish and Mexican horse-riders but got their name from their resemblance to squash blossoms. These beads are used along with round ones to create necklaces. A pendant is then added to form a striking centerpiece. This pendant has a horseshoe shape and is known as a 'naja'.
Today there are several Dine jewelers who make beautiful handmade pieces. However, it's good to keep in mind that there are dealers who sell pieces mass-produced in other countries and pretending that these are of Navajo origin. If the price seems too good to be true, it probably means that you're not looking at the real thing. Look out for the artist's hallmark, usually on the back of the piece, and familiarize yourself with the characteristics of authentic pieces before you buy.
Buying authentic Navajo jewelry means that you're investing in quality, providing a skilled local artist with an income and boosting the American economy. The best places to look for pieces are from the artists themselves or from Four Corners galleries and antique stores selling native American crafts. You may also find items online and have them delivered to you.
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Check out silltribaltrading.com for a review of the benefits you get when you purchase Navajo jewelry online, now. You can also view our selection of bracelets at http://silltribaltrading.com today.
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