Beyond Turquoise: What Other NA Jewellery Stones You Can Gift Your Valentine

 Presents speak louder than words, and rightly so. Though you will find a wide array of Native American arts and crafts, you may want to find something unique for your special someone who loves all things Native American - like Native American art jewellery. 

While turquoise is the most renowned stone in jewellery pieces created by indigenous people, there are several other precious and semi-precious stones widely used or paired with turquoise to create magnificent necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and more. 

Let’s take a look at some of the other stones found in Native American jewellery that you can choose for your beloved someone as Valentine's Day present. 

Coral 

Derived from a colony of marine animals, coral is an organic gem, frequently used by ancient Egyptians in prehistoric times. According to ancient Romans, coral offers protection from harm and cure bites from snakes and scorpios. Originally, European settlers brought the gem to Native Americans from the Mediterranean Sea. Mostly, coral is paired in cabochon form with the most precious stone, that is, turquoise, in Navajo jewelry, including Navajo silver cuff bracelets. It is also inlaid with mother of pearl and jet in Zuni jewelry pieces. 

Mother of Pearl

Mother of pearl is white with delicate iridescent rainbow hues. It is mainly a blend of minerals secreted by oysters, abalone, and mollusk creatures to line their shells for protection against harm, including parasites. While it is commonly found in Zuni pieces, many Navajo inspired jewelry pieces have the mother of pearl paired with other stunning gemstones. 

Lapis Lazuli

Lapis Lazuli is a deep blue stone with brilliant flecks of gold and silver hues. The stone is mined in western Colorado, Canada, Chile, Egypt, Mongolia, and Russia, but the highest quality stones come from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Argentina. Lapis Lazuli is believed to be one of the first stones worn by native people as jewelry and was prized in ancient Egypt. They believed the stone has magical powers. 

If you want your significant other to feel special on this Valentine’s Day, turn your gaze towards Native American art jewelry that they will cherish forever. From Navajo silver cuff bracelet to Lapis and Mother of Pearl Cluster pendant - every Native American inspired jewelry piece makes an appropriate Valentine’s Day gift. 

Navajo Jewelry: How It All Started & Notable Artists

Jewelry made from turquoise, coral, wood, leather, bone, antler, jet stone, crystal, and the shell has been founded in ancient sites throughout the Americas. In the southwest, the confluence of Native American, Spanish, and Mexican cultures brought metalwork to the Navajo and Pueblo people. Atsidi Sani, old silversmith is believed to be the first Navajo to learn metalworking. He first learned the art of blacksmithing from a Mexican man named NakaiTsosi in the mid-1800s, and then later studied silversmithing around 1865. Check out some gorgeous Navajo silver cuff bracelets!

During the 1870s, other Navajos learned their trade from regional blacksmiths and tinsmiths and used their skills to create items for everyday use, such as bridles, bandolier bags, buttons, and bells, and more. Native American art jewelry soon followed. Slender Maker of silver learned from his brother Atsidi Sani, and became known for his innovation and refinement of the art, especially during the 1880s through the 1890s. His son learned silversmithing and worked for years in his workshop at Olvera Street in Los Angeles. Their pieces are highly valued even today.

Grey Moustache, another notable figure, also learned silversmithing from Atsidi Sani and some of the local smiths. Atsidi Chon, who learned silversmithing from his brother-in-law, Grey Moustache, is thought to be the first Navajo to set turquoise in silver. The skills of silversmithing spread to Zuni and then First Mesa of Hopi in the 1880s. Not long after, traders such as the Fred Harvey Company, Wallace, and many others provided the Navajo, Zuni, Hopi, and Rio Grande Pueblo artists with the raw materials of silver turquoise, shell, jet, and coral to create thousands of pieces for trading posts and the newly developed rail concessions in the southwest. This trade continues to be a huge part of the economy of the region today!

This was a brief insight into the Navajo jewelry making and notable artists who made the work extremely popular throughout America and elsewhere. For more posts on Navajo art and culture, keep checking with us!

A Brief Insight into Navajo Jewelry

Though the history of Navajo jewelry is nearly 12,000 years old, it first gained attention in the 1850s when Atsidi Sani, the first Native American silversmith, impressed everyone with his magnificent work that included conchos, beaded Native American bracelets, and a variety of other jewelry items. Turquoise was later used in combination with silver, somewhere in the 1900s, by Atsidi Chon, another prominent figure in Native American jewelry making. Since then, silver and turquoise have been one of the most important and prominent parts of Native American jewelry crafting!

The motifs commonly found in Navajo Indian jewelry and art items often include flowers, leaves, beads, and hand stamp work. Also, the stones used in them are usually large, chunky, but beautiful and make you fall in love with them. Made up of beaded silver, the squash blossom necklace by the Navajo is the most popular and unique piece of jewelry made by the Native American tribe and since the late 19th century, these necklaces have literally dominated the Navajo jewelry style. Not to forget the gorgeous Naja pendant (in the shape of an inverted crescent) that gives the finishing touch. The squash blossom necklaces are popular – not only among Native American jewelry but in the whole necklace industry!

While the Zuni, another Native American tribe, is credited to first perfected Inlay style jewelry, they are Navajo Indians who have become some of the most prolific inlayers around. The design of inlay generally starts with a piece of jewelry, generally in Sterling Silver, with channels or voids that allow the piece to be inlaid with numerous color combinations and gemstone cuts. 
If you are a fan of the Navajo Indian jewelry and art or looking for beaded Native American bracelets, shop from the best stores online and bring this centuries-old cultural heritage to your wardrobe.

Beads Help Tell the Story of Ancient Native Americans

Beads have stood the test of time lasting, in some cases, for thousands of years. In prehistoric times, the descendants of Native Americans used the Native American beaded cuff bracelet and other types of beads as adornment in jewelry as well as a way to trade. The way the beads are crafted also said a lot about the methods and culture of the people of the time.

• The History Of The Native American Beads

Something more certain is the fact that beads have a long history with Native American people. From the materials they used to how the beads were incorporated in their daily lives, everything tells a story. Some tribes like the Navajo have “story bead” necklaces and also Navajo silver cuff bracelet where symbols and figures were carved into flat pieces of turquoise or some other type of stone, and strung with other beads. Mothers of the Native Americans then used the necklaces to illustrate stories and handed down from generation to generation.

• Materials Used In Making Beads

Most of the Native American beads were made from wood and bone. The materials were sturdy and long-lasting. The beads were also easily fashioned and carved into different styles and designs. Semi-precious stones like turquoise were and still are often used in making Native America jewelry, along with shells that are also another popular material in crafting beads for adornment purposes.

• The Belief Behind Beads

In early days, some tribes believed that fashioning the beads was a sacred task. In others, it was found that only the women were allowed to create the beads. Regardless of who could or could not make the beads, there were a variety of processes that could be used.

Today, beads hold a fascination for many hobbyists. It is not only because of the history that the beads have but also because of the vast array of choices available. The white settlers, glass beads and metals like copper and silver are now incorporated into jewelry design, which also makes beads a popular part of jewelry.

Express Your Love For Navajo Art By Wearing Navajo Art Jewelry

At times when indigenous art is mentioned, Native American art never fails to grab the attention of art lovers. One such Native American art is Navajo art. Originating from the local tribe of the Southwestern United States, Navajo art depicts the ideas and beliefs that are important to the tribe such as the images of crops, lightning, rain, water, earth, birds, and anything that supports the human existence on the planet.

  
For art enthusiasts who wish to experience the Navajo art, Navajo-artist.com has creatively made an excellent effort to bring the essence of this ancient art into the lives of people residing in urban areas. By combining the modern printing technology with Navajo art, they have created innovative and creative items such as handbags, wallets, coins, mugs and more with the imprints of Navajo art.

 For people who like to flaunt their antique jewelry, they provide the Native American beaded cuff bracelet so that people stand out from others and can express their love for this indigenous art. Their Native American art jewelry is made by highly skilled professionals using state-of-the-art technology and has the power to catch anyone’s attention. If you truly admire Native American art, make sure you equip yourself with the best items by Navajo-artist.com.

Bring Home a Piece of Art from Native American Gallery

If you are attracted to the beauty of turquoise or silver jewelry or even those alluring earth tone colors of pottery, you must be aware of the great Navajo art. If you too are drooling over the sublime and exquisite Navajo art, you should go for native American Art jewelry that is stunning to look at. Each piece of jewelry tends to add up to your personality enhancing your look. The native American beaded cuff bracelet looks great and is created carefully with utmost dedication. 

If you are passionate about art and appreciate all forms of it, you have landed on the right page! We, at Navajo Artist, want you to experience the expression of true art. We are a native American gallery that delivers the art in our products that can be duly appreciated by the people. If you wish to add color and creativity to your daily life, you can bring home an alluring piece of Navajo Art from us.

If you wish to explore more of Navajo arts and crafts, you can browse through the website, and we are sure you would not be able to resist your temptation of buying something that fits you or your home the best!

Celebrating the Native American Jewelry: Its Historical Significance

Being ancient in origin, the Native American art jewelry is more popular than ever. Attracting myriad jewelry admirers from all over the world, authentic jewelry designed and crafted by exceptionally skilled Native Americans manage to appear at the pinnacle of the trend lists annually.

We will help you take a stroll down the history of Native American art jewelry to help you understand its significance and make the best buying decision.

Take a sneak peek

Nestled around the Southwestern and Western parts of United States, the Native Americans began crafting enticing jewelry items like Native American beaded cuff bracelets from daily household items like wood, bones, stones, rocks, and shells. Today, while the design and the ingredients for the jewelry making process have embraced diversity, the tradition is still intact.

Turquoise: Its timeless appeal

Turquoise is regarded as one of the most used stones in Native American jewelry. It is merged with silver to make incredible jewelry including, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and rings, just to name a few. Turquoise has been used since prehistoric times when the Anasazi made its use to craft exclusive beaded jewelry items and adorn effigies as well.

Where to find Native American Jewelry?

The internet offers a roster of choices, especially when it comes to buying Native American jewelry at right prices. Navajo Artist is one of such premier online stores that offer quality assured, a wide range of native American art jewelry at affordable prices.

Pick Exquisite Native American Art Jewelry Online

“Jewelry is like the perfect spice- it always complements what’s already there.” - Diane Von Furstenberg

Jewelry is a way of keeping memories alive. Additionally, it is one of the most transformative things one can wear. In case, you agree with the same, buy Native American art jewelry for your sweet grandmother and gift her something unique this birthday. How about buying a Navajo sterling silver bracelet? If your dearest granny loves donning sterling silver jewelry prettified with Navajo art, rest assured she would jump with joy after receiving this priceless gift. So, if you think you have found the perfect present, check the website of Navajo Artist without further ado!

Located in Gallup, New Mexico, close to the heartland of the Navajo reservation, Navajo Artist is the ultimate spot to purchase Native American art jewelry online. Sterling silver bracelet lovers, you will find a massive collection of Navajo silver cuff bracelets perfect to be paired with every type of clothing. So, if you have been looking for Navajo silver cuff bracelet range on the internet for days and months, now you can check at the right source. Whether you want “Sun Flower” Navajo art large cuff bracelet or the one with the “Bearer of Good News” Navajo art, rest assured you will love everything at this well-recognized site.

So make your pick right away!