Exploring The Beauty Of Navajo Jewelry
by Ashlee Zilnicki
The art of crafting Navajo jewelry has an extensive tradition. It encompasses adornments such as earrings, pins, necklaces, rings, and bracelets. Also, ketohs (arm guards), wampum (sacred shell beads), and labrets (for lip piercings) are among the items which are crafted by artisans in the Native American community.
American Indian artifacts are varied. They include carvings, pottery, baskets, bows and arrows, head-dresses, arrowheads, and cradle-boards. The items were crafted from the raw materials which were found in local environments. Leather, feathers, beads, turquoise, bone, and native grasses were often used by tribal artisans.
Native American lapideries utilized a variety of tools in creating their art, including wooden drills with cactus spines, antler tools, and stone. Sand was used for smoothing, fiber cords for stringing, and stone for abrading (the process of wearing down by rubbing). Among the raw materials which are readily available to these crafters are abalone, spiny oyster, steatite, freshwater clam shells, turquoise, red shale, jet, and argillite.
One of the common components of Zuni jewelry is the fetish necklace. Each one is typically crafted with miniature carvings that represent icons and animals that have significant cultural relevance. Contemporary necklaces often include carvings of bears, squirrels, armadillos, turtles, maize, birds, horses, foxes, and frogs.
Many pieces of Navajo jewelry are characterized by opals, colorful beads, coral, turquoise, and silver. Silversmithing was first introduced to the tribal smiths the middle of the 1800s. The men who learned the craft were very respected. Among the earliest elements that were manufactured from silver are buckles, buttons, and clasps for garments. A bit later, conchas and horse bridles became popular. Bridles are often very decorative. Conchas are ornamental discs of metal which can be used to decorate saddles and belts.
The combination of coral and turquoise is very traditional. The gemstones are frequently paired with tendrils and leaves, which signify life. Four design elements are often incorporated into the jewelry. They symbolize the four cardinal directions: north, south, east, and west.
A broad array of Navajo jewelry is available. Some bracelets, money clips, rings, bolo ties, pocket knives, and watches have been crafted especially for men. Each bolo tie consists of a piece of braided leather or a cord which has an ornamental silver clasp and decorative silver tips. For women, rings, bracelets, earrings, and necklaces are available with various design elements. Among them are buffalo, crosses, dragonflies, horses, and butterflies. The materials which are used include turquoise, lapis, malachite, feathers, silver, beads, and copper.
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New Unique Article!
Title: Exploring The Beauty Of Navajo Jewelry
Author: Ashlee Zilnicki
Email: sodauaw@gmail.com
Keywords: navajo jewelry,zuni jewelry,american indian artifacts,indian artifacts,jewelry
Word Count: 413
Category: Hobbies
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