| We all know that beautifying oneself and the use | | | | and then these are surrounded by scrolls, beads |
| of jewelry has been around since the prehistoric | | | | and leaf patterns set in sterling silver. Did you |
| times. Bead making and bead necklaces called | | | | know that most of the Native American jewelry |
| heishe, which have been derived from the Santo | | | | produced is made by the Navajos? Their jewelry |
| Domingo word for shell, have been used for ages. | | | | is the most popular because of the use of sterling |
| Shells like the spiny oyster shell, mother of pearl, | | | | silver and stones like coral and turquoise. |
| abalone, conch and clam have been used in bead | | | | The overlay technique is the distinct style of the |
| making and have been considered important trade | | | | Hopi Indian Silversmiths. This is the technique that |
| items of the southwest for more than thousand | | | | is used involving the setting stones in jewelry |
| years. | | | | making. One sheet of silver has the design etched |
| The use of silver in Native American jewelry is | | | | out and then it is soldered or overlaid onto the |
| not an old concept. It has been used since the | | | | second sheet. The background is given a darker |
| early 1850s, when the Mexican silversmiths had to | | | | touch via oxidizing and the top layer is polished. |
| trade their silver trinkets for the cattle from the | | | | Bead jewelry is popular among the Santo |
| Navajo. The Navajo blacksmiths then in turn | | | | Domingo Indians and they have been making this |
| exchanged their skill of silver making with the Zuni | | | | kind of jewelry for centuries. They use seashells, |
| Indians for livestock. The Hopi tribe then picked up | | | | turquoise, jet and coral stones in their jewelry. As |
| the art of silver making from the Zuni in the | | | | mentioned before, the jewelry is all made with |
| 1890s. It is important to note that the Native | | | | sterling silver, which is normally a mix of 92.5% |
| Americans in no way were linked with mining of | | | | silver and 7.5% copper. And the reason copper is |
| the silver. | | | | added to the mix is because silver is very soft |
| The styles of jewelry used by the Native | | | | and the copper gives it more strength to develop |
| American Indians: | | | | different shapes and textures. |
| Each Native American Indian tribe has its own | | | | Southwest America is a great place to find great |
| distinct style. Do not be confused by jewelry that | | | | Native American Indian jewelry. The Navajo tribe |
| is claimed to be Native American Indian but does | | | | is in Arizona and New Mexico and can be easily |
| not have the Navajo, Zuni, Hopi or Santo | | | | called the largest Native American Indian |
| Domingo styles. The Zuni Indian jewelry includes | | | | reservation. The Hopi tribe is also in Arizona, |
| styles and techniques such as mosaic, channel | | | | whereas the Santo Domingo and Zuni Pueblo are |
| inlay, cluster, needlepoint and petit point. These | | | | in New Mexico. |
| techniques involve the use of a variety of stones | | | | The skills and art of Native American Indian |
| and shells. | | | | jewelry making is passed down generations and is |
| The Navajo Indian jewelers are well known for | | | | quite coveted. Now there are schools that teach |
| their popular squash blossom necklaces. These | | | | these skills to people who want to learn. Native |
| jewelry artists are known to use pieces of | | | | American Indian Jewelry is a great way to make |
| turquoise, coral and other semi-precious stones | | | | a bold style statement. |