Native American Art - Native American Facts

Native Jewelry History and Facts

Native American Turquoise Jewelry from Southwestern United States

Native Jewelry from the Southwestern United States began around 1860 when Navajo Atsiti Sani admired the silver horse regalia on the Spaniards horses. He talked them into teaching him how to work silver and thus began Indian Jewelry.
It was not long after that Atsiti started producing Silver Jewelry items which were immediately desired by the Native Navajo peoples. Soon, other Navajo's wanted to make Native Jewelry and Atsiti shared his learnings with them.
By the early 1870's, Native Jewelry makers started using Turquoise in their rings, bracelets, necklaces and so on. Turquoise Jewelry quickly became prized by Native American Indians throughout the United States. As Navajo's were nomatic, they took Native Jewelry including Turquoise Jewelry to other tribes and traded the Jewelry for other types of trade goods needed by the Navajo.

Native Jewelry into the Mainstream

Native American Turquoise Jewelry, primarily made by Navajo Indians, got more and more popular among American Indians throughout the United States as time went on.
In the 1890's, photos of the Grand Canyon were becoming more prevelent in the News Papers as well as other publications and by 1919 the Grand Canyon became a National Park. However, Tourism to the Grand Canyon began way before it became a National Park and the ambitious Navajo people as well as the Indian Traders knew immediately along with tourism came money!
People, especially from Southern California began flocking to the Grand Canyon in large numbers by 1900 and also by 1900 there were many places they could buy Native Jewelry and Turquoise.
Once the Grand Canyon became a National Park in 1919, people from Southern California as well as people throughout the United States and soon the world began to visit the Grand Canyon in massive numbers. One of the most important attractions other then the park was the Native American Indians and their very special arts and crafts. Almost every tourist that came to Arizona and the Grand Canyon went home with souveniers and the most important souvenier was a piece of Turquoise Jewelry made by a Navajo Indian.
Native American Turquoise Jewelry has enjoyed a brisk business throughout the years since and a mariad of businesses have sprung up that service this industry. Collectors throughout the world cherish Native American Indian Jewelry today and it is certain it will continue into the future.

Today, Turquoise Jewelry is much differant in design then it was in the past. As public demand has changed so has the design of the Native Jewelry being made. Native Jewelry as well as Contemporary Southwest Jewelry designers now work collectively to meet the demands of the new age marketplace.
Durango Silver Company from Durango Colorado is one of the leaders in producing high quality Turquoise Jewelry.

More Native American Jewelry Information:

Navajo Silversmith Information

Hopi Silversmith Information

Santo Domingo Jewelry Information

Zuni Silversmith Information

Makers Marks List

Turquoise Information

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We produce an interesting letter about once a month about the Turquoise Jewelry Industry, new products and Native American News in our area. We have a drawing each month and give away a piece of Jewelry from Durango Silver Co to our members - Join Today!