The diversity of Native American jewelry is one of its best selling features. Because of the unique style, many designs have been passed down throughout the centuries. Young designers are inspired to create impeccable pieces.
Jewelry will always be popular and with the current styles and trends found in Native American inspired pieces, this amazing jewelry can set the mood or tone for your whole wardrobe.
From the East to the West, Native Americans use unique and beautiful materials in creating jewelry. The specific style for Native made jewelry is often times formed from silver and intricate detailing of natural stone such as turquoise. Its diversity is a unique feature and is often highly ornamental and can be used when dressing up or for a more casual environment.
Upon the arrival of the Europeans, their contributions to the traditional Native American jewelry enhanced the specialized look making the pieces some of the most recognizable styles available today.
Some of the prolific tribes of Native American Indians that made impeccable jewelry can be included in the following.
Hopi – They are best known for silver overlay. It distinguishes their jewelry from others and are also known for their focus on cultural designs, animal and nature, as well as clan symbols as the signature of their work.
Navajo – The Navajo utilized abalone shells, turquoise and white shells to create the most delectably beautiful kinds of jewelry available. Always appearing in major jewelry selections, they have become mainstream commercial commodities.
Pueblo – The Pueblo used Shale, red clay and rock and a variety of stones which included the popular, turquoise. They are considered as the masters of turquoise and created almost every possible jewelry design with the use of this beautiful stone.
Zuni – The Zuni workmanship is highly regarded for its intricate designs and the use of silver in lieu with lapidary work. The focus of Zuni designs are based on stones, using silver as the main outline or frame for the design to fit. Tey are also very famous for their fetish animal, carved in precious materials and used as adornments to jewelry as well as submitting beautiful stones to their creation.
Many of the materials used today for the making of Native jewelry are found by the sea such as coral and spiny oyster. Many precious stones including opal, lapis and turquoise are used in the jewelry making process. Silver is the metal of choice and seems to connect these tribal people with the earth.
Native American jewelry has become famous all over the world. A quick look at most jewelry stores and you will see items that are inspired by beautiful Native American jewelry pieces even if they don’t actually specialize in Native custom pieces.
You too can experience these amazing designs by adding a single piece or many prized pieces to your jewelry collection. There are many designs offered for sale today, just be sure you get an authentic Native American hand crafted piece.