Navajo+Jewelry

Atsidi Sani

History Since the 19th century, the Navajo people have been working with silver. It all began Atsidi Sani known as “Old Smith”, a blacksmith, who was credited as being the first Navajo silversmith. He picked up talent and experience of being a silversmith under the guidance of a Mexican silversmith in the 1850’s. In the 1650’s Navajo were part a of mutual trade partnership with the Mexicans, which they would trade their blankets and corn for the jewelry. Navajo’s would also receive sheet copper from the Europeans traders. Native Americans of the Navajo descent would use leather dies to create designs of jewelry that gave symbolic meaning. The process of creating this jewelry took lots of patience and hard work. Sand casting and engraving were used as the primary foundation when it came to producing the designs of the Navajo jewelry.

Creations Silver is melted and then poured into a mold, which is carved from sandstone. A ﻿fo﻿rge, crucibles, an anvil, and tongs are used during the melting process. When cooled and set, the piece required a great deal of filing and smoothing. Sometimes cast jewelry was also engraved molds, the matrix and die, cold chisels, scissors, pliers, files, awls, and emery paper also come into play. A soldering outfit, consisting of a blowpipe, and a torch made of oil-soaked rags, used with borax, is manipulated successfully by the skillful smith. The silversmith used a grinding stone, sandstone dust, and ashes for polishing the jewelry, and a salt called almogen, was used whitening. The Navajo silversmiths have made buckles, bridles, buttons, rings, round, hollow beads, earrings, crescent shaped pendants, bracelets, crosses, powder chargers, tobacco boxes, and disks used on belts. Coral and other semi-precious stones were added to their designs in 1900. They were soldered and surrounded by scrolls, beads and leaf patterns set in sterling silver. Navajo jewelers are known for squash blossom necklaces, which became popular in Navajo jewelry because they incorporated silver beads that looked like blossoms from the squash plant.

Turquoise Navajo Indian Jewelry is made with emphasis on tooling of the silver accented by Turquoise and other gemstones. During the beginning time of the Navajo silversmith, turquoise was a high demanded stones and the Navajo Indians had a great deal of the material. Navajo Indians could be found living on turquoise mining areas and because they would not sell any or the turquoise stones, American would either betray the Navajo to get into the mines. They would mix turquoise along with other material to create the Navajo jewelry and used them for symbolic purchases only. Turquoise meant a lot more than money to the Navajo. Each particular jewelry creation had its own symbolic meaning depending on the message of the tribal spirits.

Symbols Navajo jewelry may also have symbols with within the final creation that are commonly used throughout many tribes in America. Symbols such as a man, waterhouse, cactus, arrow,mountain, gecko, bear paw, eagle and many more. These symbols that are used within the creation of the jewelry symbolize much more than what they actually are. For instance, a symbol of two crossed arrows, mean friendship, a symbol of one are means protection and alertness, and symbol of a child means a father's pride. It is very important to the Navajo when it comes to choosing the right symbol for a particular jewelry.

Navajo Jewelry is a Popular Trend in America Beads and Turquoise Bead Jewelry has been very popular for several hundred years in Southwestern America and thousands of years worldwide. It the Southwest it was the Santo Domingo Native American Indians who made Turquoise Beads popular in the last 100 years. Today, Turquoise Bead Necklaces and Turquoise Bead Jewelry in general are still very popular. Native American Jewelry has been set on a higher plateau than ever in the last hundreds years, being used as backbone of many famous individual's wardrobe.

Bassman, Theda, and Gene Balzer. //The Beauty of Navajo Jewelry//. Santa Fe, NM: Kiva Pub., 1997. Print. This book shows many images and gives information for creations of Navajo jewelry in past and present.

Broman, M. G. //Blue Gold: the Turquoise Story//. Anaheim, CA: Main Street, 1974. Print. This specifies the meaning of all the Colors of blue, gold, and turquoise and also shows where the materials and where the jewelry can be found.

Jacka, Lois Essary., and Jerry D. Jacka. //Enduring Traditions: Art of the Navajo//. Flagstaff, AZ: Northland Pub., 1994. Print. This books specifies the traditions of the Navajo people and how they mixed tradition wiuth jewelry making.

Baxter, Paula A., and Allison Bird-Romero. //Encyclopedia of Native American Jewelry: a Guide to History, People, and Terms//. Phoenix: Oryx, 2000. Print. This book specifies the culture of all Native Americans and the common affect they have on each other in jewelry making.

Lund, Marsha Mayer. //Indian Jewelry: Fact and Fantasy//. Boulder, CO: Paladin, 1976. Print. This book specifies the different style of the Navajo when it comes to jewelry making.

Bedinger, Margery. //Indian Silver; Navajo and Pueblo Jewelers.// Albuquerque: University of New Mexico, 1973. Print. This book specifies the relationship between the Navajo and Pueblos. It shows the history from creatins, to trading, etc.

Adair, John. //The Navajo and Pueblo Silversmiths//. Norman: University of Oklahoma, 1944. Print. This books gives information about the Navajo and Pueblos and their beginning of silversmithing. It shows the experience from the Pueblos to the Navajo in silversmithing.

Baxter, Paula A. //Native American Silver Jewelry: the First Century//. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Pub., 2001. Print. This book informs readers about the specific era of the first century how the Navajo were introduced to jewelry making.

Jacka, Lois Essary. //Navajo Jewelry: a Legacy of Silver and Stone//. Flagstaff, AZ: Northland Pub., 1995. Print. This books provides readers with images and a discussion on the history of jewelry making.

Karasik, Carol, and Jeffrey J. Foxx. //The Turquoise Trail: Native American Jewelry and Culture of the Southwest//. New York: Abrams, 1993. Print. This book specifies the meaning and the culture of Turquoise and how it has affected many tribes over America.

Tsosie, Dennison R. "Authentic Native American Silver Jewelry." //The Navajo Silversmith//. Dennison R. Tsosie, 2011. Web. 18 Apr. 2011. . This source provides information on Navajo Silversmiths aalong with history of a Native by the name of Dennison R. Tsosie.

Burchell, Sam. "Around Home: Navajo Jewelry." //Navajo Jewelry: Los Angeles//. Los Angeles Times, Spring 1989. Web. 18 Apr. 2011. . This source informs readers about the Navajo Jewelry in the Southwestern parts of America. It provides information about how and what the Navajo used to create jewelry.

Simpson, Georgiana Kennedy. "//Navajo Jewelry// ." Review. Web log post. //Navajo Jewelry: Twin Rocks Trading Post//. Twin Rocks Trading Post, 24 Apr. 2009. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. . This source specifies the opinion of individuals about Navajo Silversmith's and how hey should be credited for their work.

Stalcup, Ann. //The Art of Native American Turquoise Jewelry//. New York: PowerKids, 1999. Print. This source informs readers on the background of turquoise within Native American Jewelry and the significance it has amongst Native American tribes

Bennett, Edna Mae., and John F. Bennett. //Turquoise Jewelry of the Indians of the Southwest//. Colorado Springs: Turquoise, 1973. Print. This source specifies the background of turquoise and its association with silver. It also how it has become meaningful beyond its craft within tribes.

Rosnek, Carl, and Joseph Stacey. //Skystone and Silver: the Collector's Book of Southwest Indian Jewelry//. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1976. Print. This source provide viewers with images to help understand the craft and origin of Navajo Jewelry makers

Mary. "Tools in Navajo Jewelry Making." //Tools in Navajo Jewelry Making//. EHow, 24 Nov. 2010. Web. 18 Apr. 2011. . This sources inform viewers how and what tools are needed in the process of creating Native American jewelry

"Navajo Silversmiths." //Native American Market//. 2011. Web. 18 Apr. 2011. . This is a popular site for distributing Native American Jewelry. It also give a brief overview on the history of many cultural artifacts as well as jewelry.

Navajo Jewelry & Navajo Artists." //Turquoise Jewelry//. 18 Apr. 2011. Web. 18 Apr. 2011. . This source is a popular company of distibuting jewelry that provides brief overview on the Navajo Jewelry and Navajo Artist.

Wadsworth, Marie. "Navajo Jewelry." //Navajo Jewelry//. 14 Jan. 2007. Web. 18 Apr. 2011. . This source provideds information about Shane beer and his accomplishments in Native American Jewelry creations.