Humans have been wearing adornments since the very beginning. The modern jewelry industry has an income of many billions of dollars through the sale of fashion accessories like earrings, bracelets, rings and necklaces. A stunning piece of Navajo jewelry is not only a good investment in something quintessentially American but will also be a versatile addition to your wardrobe.
In the Navajo language, the people call themselves the Dine. They are the largest of America's native tribes. Their ancestors have lived in the Southwest for centuries and today their tribal lands cover large parts of New Mexico and Arizona but also the southerns parts of 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.
The man who changed everything was Atsidi Sani, whose name in English means Old Smith. He lived in the nineteenth century and was an important blacksmith, according to some historians the first Dine blacksmith. He learnt this skills from a Mexican man called Nakai Tsosi. He also became the first known silversmith among the Dine and passed on his skills to his sons and other members of the tribe.
The early smiths used whatever materials they could find to create their pieces. They would melt down household items like candlesticks and use the melted silver to cast new pieces, using molds carved from sandstone. They would also hammer and shape things like silver dollars into new items like the concha disks used to decorate belts.
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'.
Authentic pieces made by Dine craftsmen are handmade. They also bear the artist's hallmark as proof of their authenticity. This is important to keep in mind when you consider buying, since the market unfortunately is flooded with fake pieces made in the East and passed off as Navajo in origin.
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.
In the Navajo language, the people call themselves the Dine. They are the largest of America's native tribes. Their ancestors have lived in the Southwest for centuries and today their tribal lands cover large parts of New Mexico and Arizona but also the southerns parts of 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.
The man who changed everything was Atsidi Sani, whose name in English means Old Smith. He lived in the nineteenth century and was an important blacksmith, according to some historians the first Dine blacksmith. He learnt this skills from a Mexican man called Nakai Tsosi. He also became the first known silversmith among the Dine and passed on his skills to his sons and other members of the tribe.
The early smiths used whatever materials they could find to create their pieces. They would melt down household items like candlesticks and use the melted silver to cast new pieces, using molds carved from sandstone. They would also hammer and shape things like silver dollars into new items like the concha disks used to decorate belts.
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'.
Authentic pieces made by Dine craftsmen are handmade. They also bear the artist's hallmark as proof of their authenticity. This is important to keep in mind when you consider buying, since the market unfortunately is flooded with fake pieces made in the East and passed off as Navajo in origin.
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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