Sterling silver jewelry in Native American culture

Long before Europeans set foot on American soil, American Indians were led by jewelers. In contrast to other art, jewelry design is not all that different between the tribes. This was largely due to the fact that many different tribes have been generally limited to the same basic products and tools.

The most popular materials by local artisans to design jewelry has been chosen as follows: turquoise, amber, copper,and - perhaps most important of all - Silver in its purest forms, such as Sterling (Sterling silver, although much later became popular in Indian history).

Diamond Silver

Pure silver or was not used for the locals, as well as intensive introduced by the Spaniards in the early 1800s with more modern techniques of metalworking. That period of time used to be natives of that was before it, which is made ​​known as "silver", a mixture of shiny metalmainly of copper, zinc and nickel - a product of less than pure silver.

The tribe started using sterling silver and modern techniques of forging, Navajo were the first. According to the best of the current research was the first Navajo silversmith Atsidi Sani, progress apparently learned blacksmithing by the Spanish in 1850 and then in the work of silver, particularly in 1860.

The first silver jewelry artisansreceived their silver, most of the time, the United States and Mexican coins, silver contained a fine, the Mexican silver with the Navajo to work with and through the lighter choice. Preferable, but the silver coins was Sterling, which at this time could be made ​​by melting metal objects such as candlesticks, cutlery, etc. are available, which have always been good.

The initial focus of Sterling Silverjewelry making was on belts, Bolo, and other traditional dress and ceremonial pieces. For these traditional designs, but the jewels have been those who have knowledge of European descent - Sterling silver jewelry from rings, bracelets, earrings, necklaces, and the like.

Descendants of those Indians are still producing jewelry. And silver is still an important component. You see, instead of the traditional displacementnative crafts, the introduction of modern technologies and materials only in improving the final product produced by these people supported. Today you can buy modern sterling silver jewelry: Sterling silver bracelets, silver rings, silver chains that occurs again the influence of this old American artisans.

Sterling silver jewelry in Native American culture