posted 11-27-2008 05:47 PM            

where they sell things. Linking to a commercial site is generally not allowed here, but in this case I think necessary. From another site, an article on southwestern jewelry. Since it is a commercial site and not copywrite, I will quote a large bit of it.

'Navajo Jewelry:
Hundreds of years ago the Spanish introduced horses to the native peoples of North America, and shortly thereafter metal working became part Navajo culture - first creating iron bridles for the horses and ultimately evolving into beautiful and unique works of art.

It's believed that a Navajo named Atsidi Sani learned metal work skills from people in a Mexican enclave on land that became New Mexico. He created knives and horse bits and bridles and taught his four sons, who took their work all over the country. Out of this family came a Navajo tradition of blacksmithing.

In addition to the practical aspects of metal work, decorative metal techniques with copper and silver, called "metal of the moon," also was learned from Mexican artisans. These early artistic endeavors were used to adorn clothing, moccasins, saddles and weapons. Coins were refashioned to make buttons. Casting was managed by melting down coins and either hammering the solid silver into a sheet or by pouring the hot, liquid silver into a mold of sandstone or lava rock.

Different tribes adapted the use of silver in varying techniques. The Navajo typically make pieces with the emphasis on the use of silver itself, with a single piece usually only containing a single kind of stone in a setting, be it turquoise, agate, jasper or coral. For the most part, Navajo artists do not work in inlay techniques, which place shaped pieces of stone down into the silver.

Generally, Navajo jewelry pieces are begun in the center and worked outward. Pieces tend to symmetrical, both horizontally and vertically and there is little repetition in design. Navajo pieces are decorative, and do not represent any symbolism.

Zuni Jewelry:
Like the Navajo, the Zuni began their tradition of metal work by fashioning iron, moving on to copper and brass and then conquering silver. Zuni tribe member Lanyade learned metal work from the original Navajo smith Atsidi Sani. Lanyade then taught another smith named Balawade, who went on to teach and spread the craft. Again, these early technical skills eventually evolved into the creation of jewelry and other metal adornments, incorporating stones as well.

The Zuni are considered by many to be the premiere jewelers of all American Indian tribes, as each Zuni piece is constructed rather than cast. Zuni jewelers also are deemed to be lapidaries as well as jewelers because of designs that require precision use of cut stones. These definitive Zuni techniques include:

Clusters - small stones, most commonly in rows, to form bracelets, belts, rings, earrings and brooches.
Needlepoint - many tiny, carefully matched cabochons with pointed ends placed in straight or curved lines and set.
Petit Point - often confused with or referred to as needlepoint, this style is really a modified version of needlepoint that uses teardrop-shaped stones. If the stones are teardrop shaped, the piece is petit point, not needlepoint.
Mosaics - stones, shell or even other found objects such as nuts are arranged in random and irregular patterns. Some pieces depict animals or religious images such as kachinas, the sun face or other ritual designs.
Channel work - stones cut, polished and inlaid in a shared bezel to create a smooth, shiny surface on a continuous plane.
Hopi Jewelry:
In networking the metal work skills learned from Mexican craftsmen, the Navajo Atsidi Sani taught the Zuni Lanyade. Lanyade made a trip to Hopiland to make and sell his silver work. While he had no intention of sharing his trade secrets, his Hopi host Sikyatala did observe and became proficient enough to sell his work.

For a long time the Hopi would simply copy the work of Navajo. Later, Dr. Harold Colton and his wife Mary, founders of the Museum of Northern Arizona at Flagstaff, encouraged the Hopi to develop their own techniques and designs. In 1947 classes were organized to promote the craft and out of this experience came the development of original design and the technique of silver overlay and matte black background, trademarks of Hopi silver work.

Hopi work originates in the mind of the artist and can be vast and varied, from realistic depictions of kachinas to stylized designs that include the forces of nature and elements from the world around us. Purchasing a piece directly from the silversmith is the best way to learn the motivation behind a piece.