Native American jewelry is as varied and as unique as the tribes that design it. Each individual Native American tribe has its own style of jewelry making that dates back to their original origins. Native American jewelry has always been popular with non-Native Americans as well as Native Americans.
Jewelry styles were different in every American Indian tribe, but the differences were less marked than with other arts and crafts, because jewelry and the materials used for making Native American jewelry were major trade items long before European arrival in America. Those jewelry supplies and materials include beads, shells, copper, silver, ivory, amber, turquoise and other stones.
When you are looking for Native American jewelry that was actually made by Native Americans, it is the best to find a reputable dealer or buy directly from a Native American jewelry designer to make it sure that you are getting authentic Native American jewelry. Some research into the different styles of Native American jewelry by the different tribes can help you decide what type of jewelry you would be most interested in. It i important to you to have the real thing or you may want to support Native American people with your purchase.
Native American jewelry is created in two very general categories, namely, metalwork and beadwork. Prior to Europeans’ arrival, native metalwork was quite simple with hammering and etching copper into pendants or earrings and fashioning copper and silver into beads. Native American jewelry is dealed in hand-crafted American Indian jewelry that has rooted itself in both American history and current fashion.
Native American jewelry beadwork style consists of fine grinding of turquoise, coral, and shell beads smooth heishi necklaces, the soaking and piecing of porcupine quills, and the intricate stitching of thousands of beads together. Though Native Indian artisans make and sell reasonable souvenir-type items, authentic first-rate Indian jewelry can be very costly, but the price, materials, appearance, and the seller’s guarantee of authenticity may sometimes help.
