Celebrating the Art of Native American Jewelry by Kylee Carter
Native American Indian jewelry has a long history that dates back thousands of years. Stretching right from the southwest to the northwest, tribes have a long and rich history of making beautiful jewelry. Indigenous American people made everything from bracelets and necklaces to earrings and rings. They used a wide variety of materials such as bone, turquoise, precious stones, semi-precious stones, silver, copper, antlers and porcupine quills to create their unique pieces. But while there may be many poor quality imitations on the market, there are still many Native Americans who continue to celebrate this important part of their heritage by painstakingly handcrafting authentic Native American jewelry pieces.
History Of Native American Jewelry
The art of genuine Native American jewelry-making goes as far back as 8,800 when the Paleo-Indians shaped shells and stones into items of jewelry by using a thin stone drill. Once the Europeans had begun arriving in America in the 1500s, the Native American people began using the beads the Europeans had brought over with them in their jewelry making. The jewelry became a form of currency or collateral for the Native Americans, enabling them to successfully trade with the European settlers. Jewelry making soon became an invaluable factor in the tribes’ economic survival. Some believe that American Indians actually learned the art of silversmithing from the Spanish in the 1850s. At some point around 1900 AD, Native American Indian craftsmen in the southwest began to sell their turquoise and silver jewelry to travelers and tourists who had started to visit the area.
Common Materials Used In Jewelry Making
Beads that were used in the jewelry were made from hand-ground and filled turquoise, coral and shell. It was common for Native American jewelry makers to use parts taken from animals in their pieces. They would often use teeth, bones and animal hide in their jewelry. Some Native American Indian craftsmen would soak porcupine quills, and then string them together to make beautifully elegant jewelry items such as chokers and necklaces. However, porcupine quill jewelry is rapidly declining among Native Americans today. In Southwestern Native American jewelry, turquoise is one of the most commonly used materials. Turquoise represents the sky and is known as the ‘fallen sky stone’ and believed to have life-giving powers. As a result, it has always been widely cherished for its strong connection to Mother Earth.
Fake Turquoise Hurting Native Jewelry Craftsman
But while there are many Native Americans today creating authentic jewelry using genuine and ethically sourced stones and materials, the trade of fake Native American items is unfortunately all too common. The first prison sentence ever given to someone found guilty of selling fraudulent Native American goods was handed out last year when two men were found guilty of organizing the biggest illegal supply of fake Native American jewelry in the US. Turquoise is now thought to have become rarer and even more valuable than diamonds. Finding genuine and ethically sourced turquoise is becoming a challenge, just as it is for diamonds. Knowing how to identify ethically sourced jewelry that contains diamonds or turquoise ensures that you are only supporting ethical practices used in sourcing the stones, and the miners are working in acceptable conditions and being paid appropriately. It also ensures the work of genuine craftspeople is not undermined or devalued.
Native American Jewelry Heritage
The styles of the jewelry do vary slightly from tribe to tribe, but there aren’t any major differences, as the materials used and the finished products continue to be inter-tribal. Just like today, most Native American Indians generally wore jewelry for decoration; however, in the past, it was also used to indicate social class. Many of today’s Native American Indian artists continue to keep this tradition alive, still using ancient methods that have been passed down through generations. However, a number of craftsmen now incorporate machine-made materials into their jewelry, such as titanium and steel, along with processed stones to bring the craft up-to-date.
Native American jewelry is more than just a beautiful accessory to wear. Each piece celebrates this important tradition, and buying authentic Native American jewelry is a great way to celebrate Native American heritage and support local artists.