subject: Native American Sterling Silver And Turquoise Jewelry [print this page] This art form is one of the most beautiful of the native Indians of North America. Various pueblos have their own unique style of making jewelry. Sterling silver and turquoise are usually used in abundance. Men's bolo ties, belt buckles and women's necklaces, cuff style bracelets and earrings are the most common items made. The Navajo, Hopi and Zuni are the best pueblos, in my estimation, for high quality jewelry.
The Navajo people are adept at hand casting silver and creating petit-point jewelry. They also do wonderful inlaid work with turquoise and various other stones.
I am a big fan of turquoise so I usually enjoy the nugget type jewelry. I also love inlaid work. It takes many hours to complete a piece and when it's done, you have a unique piece of wearable art. I have this thing for Zuni sunface's. I even have two on my wedding ring!
The Zuni are renowned for their inlaid work, using turquoise, opals, spiny oyster shell, malachite, hematite, mother of pearl, jet, and coral usually. Each tiny piece is cut and placed by hand creating the image or scene desired.
The Hopi Indians are known for their sterling silver overlay work.Each piece tells a story in an intricately carved scene. I love Hopi jewelry for the symbols and story telling that each piece offers. I have many with the water symbol.
In all of these pueblos the talent and creativity is unbelievable, resulting in some of the most beautiful jewelry in the world.
