This process results in attractive designs that reflect the maker’s peronal style and many hours of their time.Ĭontemporary heishi jewelry incorporates various materials in addition to shell and coral.Īuthentic heishi necklaces are known for their smooth texture, which indicates higher quality and value. Traditional jewelry of this type typically utilizes beads that are less than one eighth of an inch in length, which are then meticulously polished on a wheel to achieve a uniform size and appearance.Traditional jewelry of this type typically consists of beads that are no more than an eighth of an inch long and are polished on a wheel to achieve a uniform size and appearance. To polish the necklace, friction from a leather belt is used.The beads are then ground and shaped using a stone wheel.Thread the unshaped beads onto the wire.To create genuine Native American heishi beads for a necklace, the artist must: However, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find true handmade heishi beads due to the extensive labor required, which can take up to two weeks to create a single strand. Traditional heishi beads are typically smooth flat discs, but nowadays the term is often used to describe rounded beadwork as well. Native American artists from the Kewa Pueblo use traditional techniques to create jewelry, such as cutting beads from stones and shells, then drilling them to be strung on single or multi-strand necklaces. Kewa (Santo Domingo) Jewelry is known for its mosaic designs and handmade stone and shell beads. Handmade silver beads as well as flared silver designs resembling squash blossoms surround the central piece. A squash blossom necklace typically features a Naja ornament, a design influenced by Spanish conquistadores.A concho belt is a silver belt decoration that is typically worn loosely on the hips over clothing layers.Silver beads, also known as Navajo pearls, are created by reshaping two flat silver discs into domes and then joining them together to form a single bead.In the process of tufa casting, silver is poured into a mold made from volcanic stone known as tufa that has been carved into the desired design.Sandcasting is a silversmithing technique in which silver is poured into a design and then hand-carved.Constructed pieces involve the cutting and shaping of flat silver, followed by stamping or engraving, to create a backdrop for turquoise stones.Some popular types of Navajo jewelry include: The Navajo tribe was the first to learn the art of silversmithing, resulting in a wide variety of authentic Navajo jewelry that remains popular today. Hopi jewelry frequently features depictions of animals, crops, and the spirit realm.Īuthentic traditional Navajo jewelry often incorporates coral, which symbolizes female energy in contrast to turquoise’s representation of male energy. This allows them to create stunning depictions of landscapes and spiritual motifs. The artists often utilize the overlay technique, where they cut intricate designs into a flat sheet of silver and then solder it onto a textured and darkened bottom layer. Traditional Hopi jewelry typically features sterling silver with minimal use of gemstones. Southwestern jewelry can be classified based on Native American tribes, with the most well-known jewelry originating from the following tribes: Most of our pieces are signed by the artist and come with a certificate of authenticity to guarantee their legitimacy.Southwestern Native American jewelry refers to Native jewelry from the American Southwest, which encompasses the following states: We are proud to feature the beautiful culture and history of Native American mining and precious gemstones.Īt Southwest Silver Gallery, we work only with expert craftsman from local Navajo, Zuni, Hopi, and Santo Domingo tribes. The stones in our real gemstone jewelry are legitimately sourced from local tribes - never imported. Responsibly Resourced Gemstones, Expertly Crafted Jewelry Brilliant green malachite is the stone of transformation, violet hued amethyst brings out the creativity within, and stunning black onyx banishes grief and encourages happiness.ĭiscover the wonder and spirituality these precious stones represent for Southwestern tribes, and bring some Native American tradition into your life. The vibrant red hues of coral represent power and speed to the Zuni tribe, while lapis lazuli is meant to bring awareness and focus to the wearer. The natural stones used in our real gemstone jewelry are both beautiful and meaningful.
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