Native American Jewelry

About Native American Indian Jewelry

While the tradition of making jewelry out of shells and beads dates to prehistoric times, Native American silver-and-turquoise rings, bracelets, pins and the like are a relatively recent phenomenon, going back only as far as the mid-19th century. Pieces from the 1800s, if you can find them, were usually produced for tribal or religious purposes rather than adornment (the tourist trade came later).

When times got tough, people would take their most expendable personal pieces and pawn them, thus spawning the phrase "old pawn" to describe pre-1900 examples of Native American jewelry made of silver. Although there is a lot of jewelry on the market labeled "old pawn," only pieces from the 1800s deserve that label...

One of the controversial aspects of Native American jewelry is the extent to which non-Native traders influenced its production. These traders frequently coached Native American artisans to create designs of little or no cultural or historical relevance, provided them with tools and materials, and, of course, sold the finished pieces to tourists who had ventured into the Southwest via the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad. Beginning in 1899, what we’d call adventure-travelers could purchase Native American jewelry and other souvenirs at Fred Harvey curio shops.

Silver was the base metal for most of these pieces—squash-blossom necklaces were one of the first styles. For stones, Navajo artisans were the first to use turquoise, which was indigenous to the area but was quickly mined out—the best pieces were labeled with the name of their source mine. It wasn’t long before high-quality turquoise was being imported, while softer, poorer-quality stones were often treated with resin to make them hard.

Other tribes developed their own styles. Shell necklaces and mosaics were a specialty of the Pueblo, particularly members of the Santa Domingo tribe. The Zuni were known for their cluster pieces and use of red coral. And the Hopi produced pins and other objects that suggest textile influences.

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Lee Yazzie Gold Ring With Spiderweb Turquoise And Coral$510.00 Ends Friday 12 bids 32 watchers
Bracelet~spring Colors~turquoise~native American Charms$310.00 Ends in 5 hours 11 bids 23 watchers
Lapis Squash Blossom Necklace Bracelet Ring Earring Set$305.00 Ends Tuesday 9 bids 30 watchers
Vintage Native Navajo Silver & Turquoise Cuff Bracelet$300.00 Ends in 2 hours 14 bids 9 watchers
Vintage Coral Squash Blossom Necklace Emma Yazzi Mark$299.00 Ends Saturday 1 bid 18 watchers
Great Lot Of 36 Vintage Native American Rings Turquoise$279.00 Ends Sunday 1 bid 28 watchers
Lot Of 12 Vintage Sterling Turquoise Cuff Bracelet Old $279.00 Ends Sunday 1 bid 17 watchers
Old~navajo~tsinnie~sterling~mother Of Pearl~bracelet$268.54 Ends Sunday 15 bids 14 watchers
Old Pawn Treasure Necklace, Great Stones & Beads Signed$260.99 Ends Sunday 17 bids 41 watchers
Native American Turquoise Squash Blossom Necklace$259.99 Ends Sunday 1 bid 7 watchers
E. Anderson Wide Sterling Turquoise Cuff Bracelet Big$249.30 Ends Sunday 5 bids 8 watchers
Fab Vintage Navajo Bracelet/amazing Stone/68 Grams$218.50 Ends Saturday 2 bids 14 watchers
Turquoise & Amethyst Bracelet W/ Native American Charms$202.50 Ends Monday 18 bids 38 watchers
Rare 26" Sterling Squash Blossom Turquoise Necklace$202.50 Ends Thursday 27 bids 42 watchers
Turquoise Cross Sterling Silver Bracelet Old Zuni Charm$197.50 Ends Thursday 17 bids 24 watchers
Vintage Turquoise Coral Bracelet Native American Charms$187.00 Ends Monday 3 bids 50 watchers
Amber Squash Blossom Necklace And Earrings M James$186.34 Ends Tuesday 7 bids 24 watchers
Sterling Bracelet Native American Charms Turquoise Nice$182.51 Ends in 7 hours 24 bids 24 watchers
Vintage Navajo Silver And Turquoise Necklace/52.6 Grams$182.50 Ends Saturday 10 bids 64 watchers
Old Blue Gem Navajo Turquoise Sandcast Silver Bracelet$180.00 Ends Friday 5 bids 30 watchers
Vintage Navajo Indian Bisbee Turquoise Silver Bracelet$177.50 Ends Sunday 14 bids 27 watchers
Domingo Squaw Wrap Turquoise Rondell Heishi Necklace$174.00 Ends Sunday 2 bids 5 watchers
Amazing Sandcast Navajo Green Turquoise Silver Bracelet$172.50 Ends Monday 18 bids 27 watchers
Kingman Turquoise Bracelet Native American Concho Charm$171.50 Ends Saturday 7 bids 58 watchers
Vintage Navajo Turquoise Silver Squash Blossom Necklace$170.00 Ends Friday 33 bids 27 watchers
Vintage Native Navajo Silver & Turquoise Cuff Bracelet$162.50 Ends Tuesday 2 bids 1 watcher
Shocking Old Navajo Green Turquoise Silver Bracelet$161.50 Ends in 7 hours 14 bids 38 watchers
Silver And Coral Squash Blossom Necklace & Earrings$160.54 Ends Tuesday 5 bids 17 watchers
Vintage Navajo Silver Turquoise Row Cuff Bracelet Nr$160.27 Ends Sunday 15 bids 54 watchers
Important Allen Kee White Hogan Navajo Silver Bracelet $157.50 Ends Sunday 8 bids 52 watchers
Old Navajo Green Spider Web Turquoise Silver Bracelet$156.55 Ends in 7 hours 24 bids 33 watchers
1930's Old Navajo Blue Gem Sterling Silver Concho Belt$156.50 Ends Sunday 8 bids 45 watchers
Old Pawn Navajo Turquoise Coral Silver Belt Buckle$153.50 Ends Thursday 24 bids 35 watchers
Old Zuni 5 Row Slant Natural Turquoise Bracelet$152.50 Ends Sunday 5 bids 23 watchers
Old Navajo Dime Squash Blossum Necklace$151.68 Ends Saturday 6 bids 8 watchers
Vintage Turquoise Squash Blossom Necklace$150.00 Ends Thursday 1 bid 15 watchers
Sign Navajo Naja Sterling Coral Squash Blossom Necklace$148.31 Ends Monday 14 bids 19 watchers
Old Vintage Native American Turquoise Bracelet Cuff$147.50 Ends in 47 mins 19 bids 37 watchers
Navajo Sterling Kachina Turquoise Necklace Earrings Set$145.88 Ends Sunday 11 bids 22 watchers
Native American Royston Turquoise Sandcast Bracelet$139.00 Ends Sunday 1 bid 7 watchers
Handmade Native American Cuff Bracelet Ster & Turquoise$137.50 Ends Friday 7 bids 20 watchers
Interesting Old Zuni Silver & Turquoise Naja Necklace $136.47 Ends Thursday 14 bids 40 watchers
Navajo Turquoise Sterling Silver Sandcast Bracelet$135.00 Ends Saturday 1 bid 2 watchers
Navajo Hand Made Silver Turquoise Clip On Earrings$134.99 Ends Thursday 1 bid 1 watcher
Vintage Zuni Indian Turquoise Squash Blossom Necklace$132.50 Ends Sunday 17 bids 18 watchers
Old Extreme Repousse Navajo Silver Turquoise Bracelet$129.50 Ends Sunday 20 bids 23 watchers
Frank Yellowhorse Inlaid Turtle Pin Pendant #29$128.71 Ends Thursday 3 bids 13 watchers
Rare Vintage Tommy Singer Silver Beaded Necklace Mint$127.50 Ends Sunday 14 bids 26 watchers
Auction$127.00 Ends Monday 10 bids 17 watchers
Huge Old Pawn Hopi Sterling Silver Bracelet 2+"wide116g$124.15 Ends in 5 hours 10 bids 9 watchers
Early Navajo Native American Ingot Silver Bracelet Lot$113.61 Ends Sunday 16 bids 45 watchers
Huge Old 92 Navajo Turquoise Silver Belt Buckle-1970's$113.50 Ends in 7 hours 10 bids 28 watchers
Huge Natural Bisbee Blue Gem Turquoise Silver Pendant$110.50 Ends Friday 12 bids 22 watchers
Old Pawn, Big Old Fire Agate Full Of Rainbow Fire Ring!$109.58 Ends Monday 14 bids 11 watchers
Old Navajo Silver & Picture Jasper Buffalo Necklace $109.47 Ends Sunday 5 bids 13 watchers
Zuni Sterling Silver Inlay Sunface Kachina Signed$108.01 Ends in 5 hours 15 bids 13 watchers
Vintage Turquoise Bracelet Navajo Indian Zuni Charms$107.51 Ends Saturday 34 bids 58 watchers

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Recent News: Native American Jewelry

Source: Google News

Treasure hunt: Event gives community a chance to gauge value of collectibles ...
Prescott Daily Courier, March 12th

McNey, a former photographer who later operated a Native American jewelry/artifacts shop on Whiskey Row in downtown Prescott, took the piece with him to...Read more

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This week, the featured stories are about the art of Native American jewelry with Ruth White of Leech Lake Tribal College. Alice Blessing of Bemidji will...Read more

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The trade show will include trucks and horse trailers, Western art, Native American jewelry, livestock and veterinarian supplies, cattle working equipment,...Read more

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Colvin said she is especially proud of a new vendor, Robin Little Bear, who will selling authentic Native American jewelry and clothing...Read more

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