Native American Indians have been wearing and making jewelry for personal adornment long before the first Europeans reached North America. Southwest Native American jewelry made with silver began with the introduction of European metal-working. Before this time, jewelry was made with natural resources, such as turquoise, shells, stones, wood and bones. Before this period, jewelry was not considered as art, but more as functional and personal dress such as buttons, buckles, broaches and bridles. For many people, their jewelry also served as their bank—a way to trade or barter for items needed by the family. As Indian tribes were resettled by Europeans, craft work and jewelry making became an important means for economic survival.
As people started buying and collecting Native American jewelry it became popular starting in the 1960s to have the silversmiths or artists sign or “hallmark” their work. Most of the pieces of jewelry made before the 1960s are not signed or hallmarked, and the artist remains unknown. The most well-known jewelry makers of today are the artists from the Navajo, the pueblos of Zuni, Hopi, and Santo Domingo.
Zuni Indian Jewelry
The Zuni Indian reservation is along the western of New Mexico near the border of Arizona. The Zuni Indians and their ancestors have been making jewelry for over 1,000 years. It is reported that the first Zuni Indian to learn to work with silver was Lanyade around 1872; he learned his craft from the Navajo. Many of the designs of Zuni Indian jewelry have not changed over the years. Zuni Indians are known for their intricate stone cutting: petit point, needle point, inlay and detailed stone carvings known as fetishes.
Needle point -Turquoise cut in long narrow or elongated stones set in delicate bezels is called needle point. This is a skill of intricate small stonework especially with pieces with smaller tightly fitting gems and settings.
Petit point – Turquoise or small stones are cut into egg-shape, oval or pear-shape gems set clusters or rows with stones and settings symmetrical.
Inlay – This technique predates European arrival and involves small stones or shell cut and set into channels of silver. The inlay can be flat, raised, etched or sculpted.
Navajo Indian Jewelry
The largest southwest Native American Indian reservation and the nation’s largest tribe is that of the Navajo. Their reservation is in Northern Arizona, New Mexico and southwestern Utah. Navajo Indian jewelry is probably the most well- known style of Native American jewelry. The Navajos learned to cast silver in sandstone or tufa, as well as produce hand-hammered work. Turquoise, a traditional favorite of the Navajos, was first included with silver jewelry during the late 1800s. Navajo Indian jewelry is traditionally is made with silver leaves, flowers, beads and hand stamp work. The popular Navajo jewelry styles include sandcast jewelry, naja pendants, squash blossom necklaces, silver beads and Concho belts. Today, the Navajo create with not only turquoise, but a variety of other gemstones as well.
Hopi Indian Jewelry
The Hopi Indians, or the “Peaceful Ones”, trace their ancestry back to the Anasazi, who were the prehistoric inhabitants of the Four Corners area. The Hopi nation totals approximately 8,500 and is surrounded by the Navajo reservation in northeastern Arizona. Their traditional homeland is located on three remote mesas. Early Hopi Indian jewelry was made from turquoise, stones, shell, wood and seeds. Hopi Indian men learned the art of jewelry making in the early 1900’s. By the 1930’s a distinctive style, known today as “overlay”, emerged and became quite popular. In the creation of overlay jewelry, two sheets of silver are soldered together after cutting out designs in the top layer with the under layer visible. This under layer has been oxidized for contrast and textured with chisel marks or stamp work. A matte or satin finish is usually given to their silver jewelry using steel wool. Typically, no stones are used, but the Hopi Indians do make turquoise jewelry, as well. The Hopi Indians are also known for their baskets, and Katsina or Kachina carvings.
Santo Domingo Indian Jewelry
The Santo Domingo Indians are one of the eighteen modern day Rio Grande pueblo people that are descendants of the ancient Anasazi. Their reservation is located between Santé Fe and Albuquerque, New Mexico, along the Rio Grande River. The Santo Domingo Indians create silver, shell and turquoise jewelry. Traditionally, jewelry makers at Santo Domingo are best known for their beautiful heishi. Heishi is made by grinding, drilling and stringing rolled turquoise and/or shell beads into necklaces similar to those of their ancestors. Signature jewelry pieces of the tribe are not only beautiful heishe strands, but thunderbird necklaces and mosaic inlay on shell or bone
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Aaron Toadlena Classic Design Cuff
$450 Add to cart -
Abraham Begay Inlaid Pendant and Necklace
$3,800 Add to cart -
Abraham Begay Opal and Lapis Inlaid Earrings
$290 Add to cart -
Abraham Begay Water Symbol Inlay Bolo
$4,000 Add to cart -
Alex Sanchez Butterfly Petroglyph Ring
$400 Add to cart -
Alex Sanchez Long Petroglyph Ring
$300 Add to cart -
Alex Sanchez Petroglyph Cuff
$600 Add to cart -
Alex Sanchez Petroglyph Ring
$350 Add to cart -
Alex Sanchez Petroglyph Ring
$350 Add to cart -
Alonzo Hustito Knifewing Bolo
$850 Add to cart -
Althea Cajero Coral and Gold Earrings
$850 Add to cart -
Althea Cajero Dragonfly and Tahitian Pearl Pendant
$750 Add to cart -
Althea Cajero Floating Band and Coral Cuff
$1,100 Add to cart -
Althea Cajero Tahitian Pearl Cuff
$1,100 Add to cart -
Alvin Yellowhorse Cobblestone Cuff
$1,600 Add to cart -
Alvin Yellowhorse Inlaid Pendant
$990 Add to cart -
Alvin Yellowhorse Pictorial Cuff
$3,000 Add to cart -
Alvin Yellowhorse Turquoise Cobblestone Cuff
$1,500 Add to cart -
Andy Cadman Natural Persian Turquoise Cluster Cuff
$1,100 Add to cart -
Anthony Skeets Butterfly Ring
$400 Add to cart -
Antiqued Beads with Butterfly Pendant
$320 Add to cart -
Antiqued Beads with Dragonfly Pendant
$350 Add to cart -
Beaded Silver Cuff Bracelet
$110 Add to cart -
Bear Paw with Turquoise
$125 Add to cart -
Betty Lee Turquoise Lariat Necklace
$1,200 Add to cart -
Butterfly Cuff
$550 Add to cart -
Calvin Martinez Revival Style Sterling Cuff
$500 Add to cart -
Chinese Chunk Turquoise Necklace
$260 Add to cart -
Cloud Dancer Fire Opal Earrings
$2,000 Add to cart -
Coral Cluster Ring
$120 Add to cart -
Coral Heishi Necklace
$300 Add to cart -
Coral Hoop Earrings
$140 Add to cart -
Coral Scroll Design Ring
$120 Add to cart -
Cynthia Johnson Turquoise Inlaid Earrings
$90 Add to cart -
Dan Jackson Basket Weave and Mediterranean Coral Cuff
$800 Add to cart -
Dan Jackson Inlaid Sterling Silver Cuff
$550 Add to cart -
Demitasse Sterling Silver Spoon
$90 Add to cart -
Dorothy Ashley Coral Cluster Pendant
$400 Add to cart -
Dorothy Ashley Coral Cluster Pendant
$450 Add to cart -
Dorothy Ashley Coral Cluster Ring
$425 Add to cart -
Double Strand Kingman Heishi with Jaclas
$980 Add to cart -
Double Strand Mediterranean Coral Necklace
$500 Add to cart -
Erik Fender Mother and Child Pendant
$750 Add to cart -
Erik Fender Sterling Silver and Kingman Turquoise Dragonfly Pendant
$200 Add to cart -
Five Nugget Turquoise Cuff
$400 Add to cart -
Four Strand Turquoise and Spiny Oyster necklace
$225 Add to cart -
Franklin Carrillo Channel Inlaid Earrings
$250 Add to cart -
Fred Harvey Style Cuff
$225 Add to cart -
Gaspeite Disk Necklace
$500 Add to cart -
Gold and Turquoise Nugget Ring
$1,000 Add to cart -
Hand drilled NATURAL Green Heishi Necklace
$1,500 Add to cart -
Handmade Sterling Silver Twisted Collar
$120 Add to cart -
Handmade Sterling Silver Twisted Collar
$120 Add to cart -
Harrison Jim Tufa Cast Inlaid Cuff
$500 Add to cart -
Heishi and Chunk Turquoise Necklace
$120 Add to cart -
Hopi Overlay Bracelet
$350 Add to cart -
Hopi Overlay Pendant
$180 Add to cart -
Hummingbird Pattern Ring
$160 Add to cart -
Inlaid Lapis Cuff
$1,200 Add to cart -
Inlay Cross Ring
$50 Add to cart -
Jan Loco Hammered Turtle
$800 Add to cart -
Jan Tenorio Blessings In The Sky Necklace
$700 Add to cart -
Jay Bobelu Spiny Oyster Inlaid Dragonfly Cuff
$800 Add to cart -
Jeanette Dale Natural #8 Turquoise Cuff
$1,700 Add to cart -
Jeff DeMent Sterling Silver and Coral Lightning Bolt Necklace
$1,650 Add to cart -
Jolene Bird Inlaid Turquoise Cuff
$550 Add to cart -
Juliana Williams Mediterranean Coral Cluster Cuff
$850 Add to cart -
JW Weekoty Large Zuni Manta Pendant
$900 Add to cart -
Kee Yazzie Jr. Petroglyph Water Pattern Pendant
$500 Add to cart -
Kee Yazzie Petroglyph Pendant
$300 Add to cart -
Kingman Turquoise Heishi Necklace
$300 Add to cart -
Kingman Turquoise Three Stone Dangle Earrings
$120 Add to cart -
Large Dragonfly Pendant
$350 Add to cart -
Large Needlepoint Ring
$130 Add to cart -
Large Turquoise Cabochon Cuff Bracelet
$150 Add to cart -
Large Turquoise Cabochon Ring
$260 Add to cart -
Large Turquoise Nugget Ring
$180 Add to cart -
Lester Abeyta Graduated Manassas Turquoise Necklace
$750 Add to cart -
Lester Abeyta Manassa Turquoise Slab Earrings
$140 Add to cart -
Lester Abeyta Slab Earrings
$125 Add to cart -
Lester James Horizontal Ring
$240 Add to cart -
Lonn Parker Triangle Inlay Cuff
$700 Add to cart -
Lupe Lovato Natural Blue Kingman Turquoise Earrings
$140 Add to cart -
Lupe Lovato Triple Strand Heishi Necklace
$990 Add to cart -
Lyle Secatero Carinated Stacking Ring
$80 Add to cart -
Lyle Secatero Feather Fan Cuff
$525 Add to cart -
Lyle Secatero Feather Fan Cuff
$525 Add to cart -
Lyle Secatero Mountain Rain Cuff
$350 Add to cart -
Manassa Turquoise Dangle Earrings
$200 Add to cart -
Marlin Honhongva Inlaid Cuff
$850 Add to cart -
Marlin Honhongva Tufa Cast Cobblestone Cuff
$2,200 Add to cart -
Marlin Honhongva Turquoise Pendant
$275 Add to cart -
Marlin Honhongva Vertical Drop Inlay Pendant
$400 Add to cart -
Matthew Charlie Ciraco Lake Turquoise Ring
$375 Add to cart -
Mediterranean Coral and Silver Ring
$110 Add to cart -
Mediterranean Coral Cuff
$400 Add to cart -
Mediterranean Coral Cuff Bracelet
$380 Add to cart -
Michael Kirk Eagle Feather Cuff with Inlay
$600 Add to cart -
Michael Kirk Sterling Silver Feather Cuff
$400 Add to cart -
Michael Kirk Turquoise and Opal Sun Burst
$8,000 Add to cart -
Michael Perry Cuff
$1,800 Add to cart -
Monica Smith Inlaid Navajo Pearl Necklace
$3,500 Add to cart -
Monica Smith Squash Blossom Earrings
$200 Add to cart -
Morenci Heishi Necklace
$800 Add to cart -
Natural Bisbee Wire Cuff
$2,100 Add to cart -
NATURAL Castle Dome Turquoise Tab Necklace
$1,800 Add to cart -
Natural Turquoise Heishi Necklace
$550 Add to cart -
Navajo Button Earrings
$110 Add to cart -
Navajo Button Earrings
$130 Add to cart -
Navajo Cluster Bracelet
$550 Add to cart -
Navajo Pearl Seed Beads Necklace
$450 Add to cart -
Navajo Pearls Graduated Bench Beads
$425 Add to cart -
Navajo Turquoise Mountain Sterling Silver Necklace
$900 Add to cart -
Navajo Turquoise Ring
$60 Add to cart -
Navajo Turquoise Ring With Leaf Design
$110 Add to cart -
Needlepoint Cluster Ring
$150 Add to cart -
Nila Cook Johnson Natural #8 Turquoise Ring
$750 Add to cart -
Nila Cook Johnson Natural Blue Gem Turquoise Pendant
$900 Add to cart -
Northern Lights Natural Turquoise Cuff
$3,600 Add to cart -
Nugget Cuff
$110 Add to cart -
Offset Double Strand Coral Necklace
$750 Add to cart -
Parfleche Bag
$320 Add to cart -
Piki Wadsworth Natural Candelaria Turquoise Necklace
$3,000 Add to cart -
Piki Wadsworth Natural Skyline Turquoise Necklace
$1,500 Add to cart -
Piki Wadsworth Spiderweb Kingman Turquoise Necklace
$7,800 Add to cart -
Randy Hoskie Copper and Sterling Silver Cuff
$400 Add to cart -
Rare Large Vintage Knifewing Bolo
$1,500 Add to cart -
Rectangular Turquoise Cabochon Ring
$120 Add to cart -
Robert Leekya Turquoise Cuff
$750 Add to cart -
Robert Shakey Morenci Turquoise Cuff
$1,100 Add to cart -
Rose Frambough Chandelier Earrings
$220 Add to cart -
Rows and Rows of Turquoise Cab Tabs Necklace
$1,200 Add to cart -
Sand Cast and Turquoise Cuff Bracelet
$280 Add to cart -
Sand Cast Naja
$380 Add to cart -
Sand Cast Naja
$250 Add to cart -
Sand Cast Scroll Ring
$290 Add to cart -
Santo Domingo Ten Strand Nugget Necklace
$325 Add to cart -
Seven Row Turquoise Cuff
$2,200 Add to cart -
Seven Stone Turquoise Nugget Bracelet
$220 Add to cart -
Shadow Box Cuff Bracelet
$140 Add to cart -
Shadow Box Inlay Cuff
$750 Add to cart -
Shadowbox Coral Ring
$120 Add to cart -
Single Heishi Strand
$350 Add to cart -
Single Heishi Strand with Large Turquoise Cabochon
$430 Add to cart -
Six Strand Turquoise Heishi Necklace
$725 Add to cart -
Sky Blue Turquoise Cabochon Ring
$120 Add to cart -
Sleeping Beauty Nugget Cuff
$550 Add to cart -
Small Zuni Petit Point Star Pin
$150 Add to cart -
Spiny Oyster Chandelier Earrings
$350 Add to cart -
Spiny Oyster Ring
$200 Add to cart -
Split Wire Cuff
$120 Add to cart -
Squash Blossom Earrings
$175 Add to cart -
Stamped Copper Cuff
$50 Add to cart -
Stamped Navajo Pearls Necklace
$700 Add to cart -
Stamped Repousse Sterling Silver Hair Combs
$60 Add to cart -
Stamped Sterling Silver Cuff
$135 Add to cart -
Sterling Beads and Pendant
$300 Add to cart -
Sterling Silver and Turquoise Ring
$150 Add to cart -
Sterling Silver Handmade Bead Necklace
$1,600 Add to cart -
Sterling Silver Hoop Bracelet
$60 Add to cart -
Sterling Silver Hoop Bracelet
$110 Add to cart -
Sterling Silver Hoop Bracelet
$50 Add to cart -
Sterling Silver Hoop Bracelet
$50 Add to cart -
Sterling Silver Melon Bead Necklace
$175 Add to cart -
Sterling Silver Slide with Clasp
$100 Add to cart -
Sterling Silver Stackable Cuff
$200 Add to cart -
Sterling Silver Twist Stackable Cuff
$60 Add to cart -
Sterling Silver Twist Stackable Cuff
$60 Add to cart -
Sterling Silver V Slide
$75 Add to cart -
Steve LaRance 18k Gold and Opal Cuff
$20,000 Add to cart -
Steve LaRance Cobblestone Inlay Cuff
$2,400 Add to cart -
Steve LaRance Freeform Coral Pendant
$600 Add to cart -
Stick Pin
$30 Add to cart -
Sunshine Reeves Twist Cuff
$160 Add to cart -
Swirl Pin
$220 Add to cart -
Taos Moccasins
$100 Add to cart -
Tear Drop Turquoise Cluster Ring
$140 Add to cart -
Teddy Draper, Jr. Variscite and Coral Ring
$500 Add to cart -
Ten Strand Spondylus and Turquoise Necklace
$500 Add to cart -
Ten Strand Turquoise and Olive Shell Heishi Necklace
$350 Add to cart -
Ten Strand Turquoise Heishi Necklace
$1,100 Add to cart -
Thomas Charley Sterling Silver Earrings
$130 Add to cart -
Three Stone Mediterranean Coral Ring
$350 Add to cart -
Three Stone Turquoise Cuff
$300 Add to cart -
Tie Bar
$65 Add to cart -
Tim Blueflint Ramel Earrings
$250 Add to cart -
Tim Blueflint Ramel #8 Turquoise Ring
$500 Add to cart -
Tim Blueflint Ramel Ciraco Lake Turquoise Ring
$500 Add to cart -
Tim Yazzie Inlaid Cuff
$800 Add to cart -
Tim Yazzie Inlaid Cuff with Natural Kingman Turquoise
$750 Add to cart -
Tim Yazzie Inlaid Cuff with Natural Kingman Turquoise
$650 Add to cart -
Tim Yazzie Overlay Pendant
$2,300 Add to cart -
Tim Yazzie Overlay Spiny Oyster Butterfly Pendant
$1,100 Add to cart -
Tim Yazzie Sterling Silver and Turquoise Bolo
$1,500 Add to cart -
TJ Perry Inlaid Pendant
$750 Add to cart -
Tom Hawk Signature Cuff
$350 Add to cart -
Tommy Singer Lapis Necklace
$1,550 Add to cart -
Tommy Singer Mediterranean Coral Necklace
$2,200 Add to cart -
Tommy Singer Overlay Earrings
$125 Add to cart -
Tommy Singer Single Strand Necklace
$550 Add to cart -
Tony Aguilar Sterling Silver and Spiny Oyster Necklace
$1,400 Add to cart -
Torevia Crespin Inlaid Spiny Oyster Tab Necklace
$850 Add to cart -
Trapezoidal Inlaid Earrings
$100 Add to cart -
Trapezoidal Inlay Ring
$180 Add to cart -
Triangular Inlaid Earrings
$140 Add to cart -
Triple Coral and Leaf Ring
$250 Add to cart -
Turquoise and Coral Leaf Design Ring
$110 Add to cart -
Turquoise and Heishi Necklace
$170 Add to cart -
Turquoise and Sterling Silver Squash Blossom
$900 Add to cart -
Turquoise Cabochon Ring
$80 Add to cart -
Turquoise Channel Inlay Bracelet
$1,800 Add to cart -
Turquoise Cross
$120 Add to cart -
Turquoise Dome ring
$140 Add to cart -
Turquoise Inlaid Earrings
$130 Add to cart -
Turquoise Mountain Pendant
$675 Add to cart -
Turquoise Nugget Necklace
$100 Add to cart -
Turquoise Ring
$90 Add to cart -
Turquoise Watch Cuff
$175 Add to cart -
Twisted Flat Wire Earrings
$100 Add to cart -
Two Strand Turquoise Apple Coral Necklace
$160 Add to cart -
Vern Begaye Arrowhead Earrings
$325 Add to cart -
Vern Begaye Dragonfly Pendant
$1,200 Add to cart -
Vern Begaye Innovative Multi-Stone Cuff
$4,200 Add to cart -
Vintage Arrowhead Sterling Silver Earrings
$60 Add to cart -
Vintage Blue Gem Turquoise Pin
$400 Add to cart -
Vintage Butterfly Pin
$125 Add to cart -
Vintage Butterfly Pin
$80 Add to cart -
Vintage Cerillos Turquoise Three Stone Ring
$140 Add to cart -
Vintage Channel Inlay Turquoise Earrings
$230 Add to cart -
Vintage Concho Pin
$60 Add to cart -
Vintage Double Row Turquoise Cabochon Bracelet
$1,800 Add to cart -
Vintage Geometric Shaped Pin
$145 Add to cart -
Vintage Green Turquoise Ring
$150 Add to cart -
Vintage Hand Stamped Ponytail Holder
$225 Add to cart -
Vintage Inlay Antelope Bolo
$3,500 Add to cart -
Vintage Manassa Turquoise Earring
$250 Add to cart -
Vintage Navajo Turquoise and Sterling Silver Swirl Necklace
$900 Add to cart -
Vintage Silver Squash Blossom Necklace
$4,500 Add to cart -
Vintage Single Stone Cuff
$235 Add to cart -
Vintage Squash Blossom Necklace
$1,200 Add to cart -
Vintage Ten Strand Natural Coral Necklace
$1,700 Add to cart -
Vintage Turquoise Nugget Bolo Tie
$75 Add to cart -
Vintage Turquoise Ring
$120 Add to cart -
Vintage Zuni Cluster Cuff
$1,250 Add to cart -
Vintage Zuni Cluster Pin
$780 Add to cart -
Vintage Zuni Sleeping Beauty Inlaid Turquoise Tab Necklace
$700 Add to cart -
Vintage Zuni Sun Face Bolo Tie
$400 Add to cart -
Vintage Zuni Turquoise Pin
$130 Add to cart -
Zuni Chandelier Earrings in Turquoise
$250 Add to cart -
Zuni Cluster Ring
$370 Add to cart -
Zuni Inlaid Earrings
$175 Add to cart -
Zuni Needlepoint ring
$240 Add to cart -
Zuni Sun Face Earrings
$120 Add to cart