Shopping for authentic Native American jewelry can be a daunting task. The pieces tend to be heavier in weight and gauge than Zuni Jewelry and the metalwork often contains stamp work or designs created through Tufa or Sandstone casting. Concho Belts are a prime example of Reposs style metalwork which is a style of ornamental metalwork achieved by hammering the reverse side of a piece of malleable metal to create design work on the front. Today lower-end turquoise pieces are reconstituted meaning they are the crumbling turquoise mixed with resin or epoxy and then shaped. Sedona Indian Jewelry sells finest quality Turquoise Jewelry that is completely handmade by master American silversmiths. Jet is a type of coal made from fossilized coniferous evergreen wood. These single strand necklaces typically have on large fetish serving as a pendant. The jewelry you see is the jewelry you get. Indian pieces use a variety of clasps. The difference is in the price. It is also possible that a lack of education exists surrounding Native American jewelry. Today, heishi beads can be made from any material, though they are still often made from shells or stones. The animal is carved with a distinct purpose and meaning. The last great offense against Native Americans is to copy their culture and make their art common, when it is both uncommon and spiritual. The easiest way to distinguish between the two is the clasp. Occasionally an older beaded necklace may have a sinew string, it is not jute. The color of turquoise depends on the metals present in the rock. Due to their size, modern technology is required to help stabilize these large cuts of gemstones. The silver in the necklace pictured is real silver. Visit our site to view our entire selection of Santo Domingo jewelry, and if you have any questions about our pieces or the artists, please feel free to contact us. It is illegal to offer or display for sale, or sell any art or craft product in a manner that falsely suggests it is Indian produced, an Indian product, or the product of a particular Indian or Indian tribe or Indian arts and crafts organization, resident within the United States. Both refer to the beautiful and cleanly cut Native American jewelry made by the Pueblo peoples on a specific reservation in New Mexico called Kewa Pueblo. All the turquoise jewelry you see is here and ready to ship to you. Aluminum can make the turquoise lighter whereas zinc can create a yellow-green color. We have been on the internet since 1996 You are our priority You are our #1 concern. That first ring is silver with a semi precious gem. Santo Domingo Southwest Native American Jewelry Guide. We sell jewelry that you will be proud to wear and proud to be seen wearing. Natural turquoise crumbles and therefore requires an additive to stabilize it. Also, almost ALL multi-strand necklaces transition into one strand before the clasp. The folklore surrounding turquoise is that it comes from the tears of the Native Americans. However, when the economy picked back up after the Great Depression, artists returned to using their traditional materials like turquoise and jet. Although the newer pieces may not contain as much silver, they should still be valued culturally and artistically. I would imagine that took a lot of work on your part. Long before the Europeans came to America, Native American tribes had been crafting and wearing jewelry for personal adornment. Craft stores sell everything from silver caps to turquoise. The Natives identified the need to sell to their market which at one time was the Spanish, hence the reason these ornate silver necklaces were created. Almost all of the turquoise looking fetish animals are Howlite. Under the Act, an Indian is defined as a member of any federally or officially State recognized tribe of the United States or an individual certified as an Indian artisan by an Indian tribe. The beads are usually disc or tube shaped. Click on the artists name for jewelry photos, information, price, andthe artist's bio. The other two are not silver and do not have the correct clasp. It appears much the same as a plastic toy. Our Guarantee is simple. An abundance of valuable gemstone has guided the pueblo through an impressive trading history. FranHogan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, Somewhere in our family folklore is "Big Mamma," a half Cherokee woman who ruled our family with her demeanor and size (she was over six feet tall). The materials used are also a giveaway. There are two main types of Inlay, stone-to-stone inlay and channel inlay. Find Santo Domingo Jewelry at Home & Away Gallery. First, let's first address the matter of fake or costume Southwest jewelry. Intricate details on a fetish scream fake. This should not be confused with Harvey house jewelry. Jewelry making then became an important means of revenue for the Santo Domingo people. Refunds are not possible for orders that we made to your specifications or for layaway purchases that we took off the market to hold for you. Another tell is when one shop has more than one of the exact same style item. One thing you will never see on Native Necklaces is brass findings. The left earring is the import, the right is Native American with quill beads. Today, the Thunderbird remains an important motif in Santo Domingo jewelry. The only advantage to this process is that the resulting plastic turquoise is indestructible and costs almost nothing to make. Many websites claim the Thunderbird necklace originated from the Santo Domingo. Lay A Way Payments are OK - Call us for details - 800 462 8536. Modern-day artists draw upon the traditions and materials used by their ancestors. Turquoise forms when water trickles into a host rock, depositing copper, zinc, and aluminum in the stone. Native American jewelry only has two types of silver clasp or sinew. That is to say, Santo Domingo jewelry made during the Great Depression when materials were scarce. This method of monetary exchange was how some of the more elaborate silver pieces of Native Jewelry transitioned into other places in American culture. The far left is the only true Native piece. We offer both contemporary and vintage turquoise jewelry. The bottom is a more contemporary piece by Larry Loretto that exemplifies the channel inlay style. Just like today many of the old pawn pieces were scrapped to make other popular jewelry of the time thus making the actual old pawn jewelry more valuable. Thus, while the revival of the thunderbird image in necklaces was an Anglo movement (assuming Dennis June is correct), it could be argued that Native Americans have not only reclaimed the image in recent years but have since made it into one of their signature symbols, restoring a sacred order. The third type of jewelry that resembles Native American is jewelry from the area around India and Tibet. The second ring is a newer Native American ring. It is poor copies made using cheap, imitation materials. Modern-day artists sometimes draw inspiration from archaeological patterns or the patterns that occur naturally in stones. . Call us for help or to purchase (800 462 8536) We want satisfied customers and we work hard every day to earn your business. The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. The main styles of Zuni jewelry are Clusterwork, Needlepoint, Petit Point and Inlay. Reproduction of these pieces made out of stainless steel was sold to tourists in tourist traps all over Arizona and can still be found there today. Our contemporoary, Native American Jewelry store always keeps in stock a large and varied inventory that we add to regularly. Typically, you will find 6 blossoms on each side of the necklace, however, this number can definitely vary. We have no fake turquoise and no jewelry that was manufactured offshore. Zuni Fetishes are a fundamental art form for the Zuni tribe. Santo Domingo jewelry continues to be highly sought-after for its beauty and history. The piece on the top is a beautiful example of stone-to-stone inlay work by Gladys and Leslie Lamy. Here again, most round beads are going to be Howlite. What is often passed off for White Buffalo is Howlite. Known as Skystone to Native Americans, turquoise has appeared in the earliest Native American jewelry and continues to be a hallmark of their work today. To connect with the history of the Kewa Pueblo is to connect with the jewelry itself. Mosaic inlay pieces are another hallmark of Santo Domingo jewelry. More often than not these Shells are punctuated by small ornamental stamped butterflies placed in-between each of the shells. Ive been collecting Native American jewelry and art for over 30 years. The piece featured below is by Clinton Pete and is an example of a perfectly executed Heishi necklace in traditional style. There are some amazing Native American artists still out there today. It pays to know your materials. The first is Fred Harvey jewelry which was created to sell to tourists. Sinew looks sort of like a tan translucent string (see picture). Sadly, few young artists are learningthe metal, lapidary and design skills necessary to make fine jewelry. The styles of tribes tend to cross over and mingle. The word Concho comes from the Spanish word for Shell because the belt itself holds several shell-like pieces fashioned all along the circumference of the belt itself. The piece below is a classic example of Reposs work by Paul Begay. Tiny pieces of turquoise were often mixed with resin to create Native Jewelry with the look of a stained glass window. In modern times, the pueblo further benefits from tourism trade brought on by the nearby Santa Fe Railway and Interstate 25 Highway. You know so much about the American Indian jewelry. We delight in the work of artists whose vision allows them to step beyond tradition into unexplored territory, continuing the evolution of their cultures artwork that has taken place over hundreds or even thousands of years. Turquoise is also considered a healing stone, thus it was originally hung around the neck to promote healing. The Santo Domingo Pueblo was located very close to Santa Fe, New Mexico, which was a popular tourist destination along Route 66. Animals such as the fox, wolf, and badger look very similar. Bone, quill, antlers, and stones made up these somewhat primitive adornments. In older turquoise pieces, the turquoise is stabilized with a type of epoxy and put under pressure. More than 80% of Santo Domingos children know the native language of Keresan, further ensuring that there will be another generation of Native American jewelry with a real cultural link to the Kewa Pueblo. Any info greatly appreciated. Traditionally, heishi beads were created by using a cactus needle to drill a hole through a rough shell fragment or stone. Santo Domingo jewelry has a shared history with other Native American jewelry types, but it has features and a history all its own. I have an impressive bone carved fetish necklace(see picture). True white buffalo has a distinct black and white contrast. They started to create jewelry using found materials, things you might consider garbage. Dan Etsate produced this stunning example of needlepoint. This is a really nice well made ring. Much of the Southwest jewelry you see for sale looks Native American, but it is not. Your email address will not be published. The designs on the face of a bracelet made in Mexico are more ornate and contain several types of materials (see Photo). The second type of jewelry that closely resembles old pawn is jewelry made Mexico. 2017 Sedona Indian Jewelry. Free US shipping on retail purchases over $100. Once laws were put into place to prevent the destruction of currency, silver came up from Mexico and or was melted down from utilitarian items. If the truth be told, it will be worth less and difficult to sell. The Zuni are close to the Mexico border so what happened a lot is that jewelers from Mexico would create pieces that stylistically reflected Native pieces. To have a silver cast animal takes the element of spirit out of the piece. I have learnt a lot from it. Santo Domingo Depression jewelry can be made from: The people of Kewa Pueblo embrace their ancestry and carry on their culture to this day. Sign up to receive latest news and updates direct to your inbox, Albert Lee and Sons Traditional Southwest Jewelry, Edward Charlie Native American Navajo Jewelry, Jesse Monongye Contemporary Navajo Jewelry, Daniel Chattin and Jovanna Poblano Zuni Jewelry, Augustine Pinto and Rosalie Pinto Zuni Jewelry, Gerald Lomaventema Native American Hopi Jewelry, Lawrence Saufkie American Indian Hopi Jewelry, Joe and Mary Calabaza Heishe and Shell Jewelry, Anthony Lovato Silver and Gaspeiite Bracelet, Anthony Lovato Silver Bracelet - Prosperity, Antony Lovato Tufa Cast Silver Pendant/Pin. It is a solid ring, well made in the old pawn style. as you see in the modern piece above, the stone is set with a straight piece of silver rather than the zigzag setting seen in old pawn jewelry. Joe and Mary Calabaza Turquoise and Olive Shell Heishe Mary and Joe Calabaza Ultra Fine Heishe Necklace, Native American Agate Pendant by Anthony Lovato, Native American Turquoise Bracelet Jerry Whagado, Apache Spirit Dancer Bracelet Jerry Whagado, Native American Silver Bracelet by Simon Aquirre, Turquoise Bracelets - Medium Size Turquoise Bracelets, Hopi, Navajo, Gold and Silver Turquoise Bracelets, Bolo Ties - Top Quality Vintage And Contemporary Southwest Bolo Ties, Belt Buckles - Fine Southwest Turquoise Silver and Gold Belt Buckles, Ring Jewelry Turquoise Southwest Contemporary, Turquoise Necklaces from Southwest Native American Silversmiths, Santo Domingo Turquoise Coral Heishe Necklaces, Silver and Turquoise Squash Blossom Necklaces, Turquoise Earrings Native American Indian Jewelry, Turquoise Jewelry - Rare and Unique Southwest Turquoise Jewelry, Dr. Edwin Wade Southwest Pueblo Pottery Collection, Sheche / Kucate - Thelma, Aaron and Lorindina, Zuni Fetish Carvings, Richard Tsosie, silversmith , lapidary , southwest jewelry, Call us to Order USA (800) 462-8536 Layaway is Ok - Call Us. Thank you for a very informative article. Above all, we value the relationships we develop through our gallery: relationships with customers as well as relationships with artists. Home & Away Gallery has an excellent selection of Santo Domingo jewelry for sale from popular Native American artists of the Kewa Pueblo. Other modern innovations include large heishi beads comprised of many smaller beads. Mosaic inlaid pieces are another traditional form of Santo Domingo jewelry, often featuring turquoise on a shell base. Older Squash blossom necklaces have little or no turquoise and often have a cross in the center of the Naja. These pieces are commonly made from Sterling Silver and often feature detailed Native American symbols. You can see the hallmark, it has the solid silver back. All products must be marketed truthfully regarding the tribal enrollment of the producers so as not to mislead the consumer. It is soft, chalky, otherwise uselss turquoise that is mixed with resins and dyes to give it color and hold it together while it is manufactured. I have a silver fetish necklace but is not marked and has hook closure like the one you described. Today it is suspected that over 50% of the world's turquoise jewelry is either other stones (Usually Howlite) dyed a turquoise color or reconstituted turquoise. One thing that is specific to craft store pieces is round beads. It is rare to see a fetish animal made out of turquoise because of the crumbly nature of turquoise. There are similarities between multi strand Native American and India made necklaces. Howlite has a chalky look and gray lines. The Harvey pieces are also made with thinner silver and so not have the primitive welding you see on Native jewelry. The squash part of the necklace is a hint to the survival of many North American Tribes. The inlaid stonework is sometimes worked in-between metal channels that separate the stones from each other. Squash Blossoms are often accompanied by a crescent shaped pendant called the Naja in Navajo. Even today, if you mention any of this to my mother, she will say, "they took our land.". A Native American craftsman displays his work in Santa Fe, New Mexico. One of the most readily identifiable pieces of Native American Jewelry is the Naja at the center of a squash blossom necklace. Pamela Oglesby from Sunny Florida on January 28, 2020: This was such an interesting article as I didn't know there was so much fake jewelry out there. Another thing you will not see in original Native American necklaces is stacked fetish animals. Santo Domingo jewelry is jewelry from Kewa Pueblo, which used to be called Santo Domingo Pueblo until a name change in 2009. Please check us out on these media platforms. The easiest way to spot these pieces is the stone setting which has a straight edge rather than a zigzag edge. Needlepoint is a style characterized by very thinly shaped stones, often resembling narrow grains of rice. Some traditional items frequently copied by non-Indians include Indian-style jewelry, pottery, baskets, carved stone fetishes, woven rugs, kachina dolls, and clothing. Such as Mexican bracelets sometimes have a pin system that joined the pieces giving them more movement than you would see on a Native American piece. Turquoise from Bisbee, Morenci, Lone Mountain, Number Eight, Carico Lake, Demali, Lander Blue, Indian Mountain and Red Mountain are few top quality Arizona and Nevada turquoise mines. As Native jewelry became popular for tourist purchase, materials were acquired from all over the world. Clusterwork can be distinguished by the larger size of the stones used, like this award-winning piece by Luwayne and Lorraine Waatsa. This is original, authentic Native American jewelry made by the artists who created it here in the Southwest United States. Santo Domingo Native Americans didnt adopt the process until later. I would use extreme caution buying one of these pieces. The Indian rings are more often a skinny oval, rather than the rounder oval common in Native jewelry. The beads used in tourist jewelry often came from China or Japan. Liz Westwood from UK on January 29, 2020: This is a detailed and very useful article. If a business violates the Act, it can face civil penalties or can be prosecuted and fined up to $1,000,000. Man made plastic turquoise and coral has no depth to its color. Native American Juniper/cedar seed Necklace. This brings us to how to spot the fake Zuni animals. Beads that are too uniform are a sign that a piece is not Native American. One of the more popular Native American necklaces is the Zuni Animal Fetish necklace.The Zuni believe spirits reside inside the rock. The Zuni jewelry makers are known primarily for their intricate stonework designs. Early Native American jewelry had very little turquoise and often was unmarked. We search out rare United States turquoise from mines witha proven history of appreciation. True Santa Domingo pieces are never made with jute. Tufa stone is textured, so silver jewelry cast this way retains some of that texture. Zuni necklaces have small animals that are sometimes tough to distinguish with the exception of the tail style. A higher concentration of copper will make the gemstone more blue, while a higher concentration of iron will make the gemstone more green. Now think about the Zuni people carving fetish animals, it is not a simple undertaking. Located 34 miles southwest of Santa Fe, the Kewa Pueblo has always enjoyed a distinct geographic advantage over neighboring tribes when it comes to jewelry-making thanks to its proximity to the Cerrillos mine region, which has provided a steady supply of natural and chalk turquoise to Pueblo peoples (and their prehistoric ancestors, the Anasazi) for roughly 6 thousand years. The prices for highest grade material is becoming more and more expensive as the existing supply is exhausted. The top ring is a silver ring from a non Native American Artist. I learned a lot. There are 19 different Pueblo reservations in New Mexico, but Native American jewelry from the Kewa Pueblo is among the most highly sought after because of the locations . While there are some similarities between these three main Native American jewelry producing tribes in the Southwest, the differences are often easier to distinguish than you might think. These necklaces typically come in either a multi-strand necklace style (on top by Rosita Kaamasee) or a single strand with larger fetishes and more attention to detail (on the bottom by Andres Quandelacy). In the 1600s, the Spanish introduced most Native Americans in the American Southwest to silversmithing. Brass is a tell that the piece is from another country. Modern pieces tend to be marked by the artist and differ slightly from vintage pieces. Zuni inlay traditionally includes Turquoise, Red Coral, Black Jet, and Mother of Pearl. The concho belt is another staple piece in Native American Jewelry. Modern power tools have upgraded the drilling and sanding process. If you have any questions or would like to make an appointment to see our Kewa Pueblo jewelry in person, please call Home & Away Gallery owner David Shultz at (207) 423-8473. Mexican jewelry artists did not start marking their silver sterling or 925 until the 1940s. Today, Southwest Jewelry is collected worldwide it is art, its appeal is timeless. Instead of using traditional materials that were hard to come by, the artists made beautiful pieces from things like old car batteries, sun-bleached animal bones, gypsum, tiny shards of turquoise, and bits of plastic. Squash was a staple of many tribes especially during rough hunting years. Stones for these pieces are cut down and shaped for placement in precise and intricate designs. Yup, we have a lot to be proud of . Round turquoise does not exist in Native jewelry. ), earrings, and, of course, Santo Domingo turquoise jewelry. Sign up to receive monthly promotions and exclusive deals and you'll save $10 now! When the stones are shaped and worked to sit directly next to each other this is considered stone-to-stone inlay. Also the Harvey pieces tend to have native symbols stamped into them, where as old pawn had a primitive style and features nature. The large stones and ornate metalwork were considered signs of status and wealth among the Spaniard, from whom the Navajo learned the majority of their jewelry working technique. Often, this jewelry featured the image of a Thunderbird with outstretched wings, and they sold by the thousands. 101-644) is a truth-in-advertising law that prohibits misrepresentation in the marketing of Indian arts and crafts products within the United States. Some pieces include two loops called Jacla which original were worn as earrings, but have since been moved to the base of the heishi necklace for ornamental purposes. It is popular both in fetish carvings and for inlaid jewelry pieces. Fine quality, beautiful gem turquoise is quite rare. As an Arizona resident I see a lot of Native jewelry in touristy traps. The Indian Arts and Crafts Act (Act) of 1990 (P.L. Many stores / dealers say they sell gem quality turquoise, the truth is that few actually do. I am going to check my jewelry as my mother gave me some turquoise jewelry that I think I still own. She attended design school and has worked as an artist/visual artist. These pieces often look like plastic and have a warmer feel than the more natural turquoise. It gets its name from the tendency for Native Americans to pawn pieces of jewelry to Harvey House traders for survival materials such as tools. Inlay is a type of stonework that is characterized by meticulously shaped stones worked to fit precisely in order to achieve the desired pattern. However, in those special cases, if possable, we will give you a store credit or exchange. You will not find the beauty of natural turquoise in a labratory. Native Americans do not use claw clasps on their jewelry. There are a few notable types of pieces in Navajo jewelry making: The squash blossom necklace is a staple piece in the world of Native American jewelry and definitely deserves an honorable mention. People selling non-native made items as Native American are breaking the law. Santo Domingo jewelry and Kewa Pueblo jewelry are interchangeable terms. At that time these pieces were only worth their silver value and were not appreciated. The pieces are then set within silver bezels in repetitive designs, most commonly in concentric circles. It is illegal to market art or craftwork using the name of a tribe if a member, or certified Indian artisan, of that tribe did not actually create the art or craftwork. (Department of Interior, 2020, sic). a clue is usually the beads used in between the fetish animals. If you pick up a ring and it has the opening, it is obviously not Native American. Only Gem Turquoise is simply cut and polished. Often, slab jewelry features turquoise, though other stones can be used as well. Consider for a moment how difficult it is to carve stone. They feature large slabs of gemstones for a bold feel. This jewelry is all handcrafted by artists from the Santo Domingo tribe. Three other types of jewelry resemble old pawn. Other popular types of Santo Domingo jewelry include: A popular subset of Santo Domingo jewelry is Depression jewelry. Newer Squash Blossom necklaces are in the hundreds of dollar range depending on the materials. Gold, silver, rare turquoise and coral have always been scarce. We are associated with well over 80 master Navajo, Hopi, Zuni and Santo Domingo silversmiths. The turquoise that was used in older necklaces is rough, not smooth. Ralph Atencio, one of the first Santo Domingo artists to learn silversmithing, learned the art in 1893. Turquoise has been used in jewelry for thousands of years. These defining features will reveal what makes this jewelry unique. This is an excellent article for future reference. You will not see 25 Heishi necklaces on a rack unless they are imported. In other words, if you buy a necklace where the claim of Native American artistry is being made, and it turns out to be fake, you can not only get your money back, you can report it. There are only about 20 artists currently producing Zuni necklaces on the Zuni reservation, however, cheaper imitations do exist at a much lower level of quality. They are known primarily for a type of necklace Heishe or Heishi Necklace. Question: Are animal fetish necklaces made in silver, or are they only made in stone? The Thunderbird is a legendary Native American creature of supernatural strength and power, though its particular role varies from tribe to tribe. It is a tourist ring mass produced using both turquoise and coral chips. The artist carves the design into one piece, and that piece is then soldered to the other. Richard Tsosie first came to national prominence in April 1979. These are not qualities from which beauty springs. That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. We much prefer to brag about our great artists, their jewelry, our huge selection, our detailed photography and product descriptions, our fine customer service and our no questions asked money back guarantee. You might see something that inspires you, but you have no idea how to find it. The pueblo is famous for Native American turquoise jewelry, especially turquoise necklaces, the beads of which can be finely cut to hair strand lengths if so desired. Home & Away Gallery proudly collaborates with the following talented Santo Domingo artists: Geographic Origins of Kewa Pueblo Jewelry. You matter to us. . Rings are the most commonly mistaken Indian jewelry item. Slab jewelry uses little metal, instead allowing the unique beauty of the gemstone stand out. The jewelry you see is the jewelry you get. Hopi Jewelry stands out against Zuni and Navajo through its absence of stonework. White Buffalo turquoise comes from one mine in Nevada. The photo above shows three rings. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Mexico has been the worlds leading producer of jewelry almost since its discovery. The thunderbird image was subsequently copyrighted by the company in 1909. We see no need to waste your time bragging about us making a sale. Slab jewelry is a relatively modern addition to Santo Domingo jewelry. Hopi overlay jewelry is created by soldering two layers of metal, often silver, together. I grew up on stories of the Trail of Tears and tough times. One of the biggest tells of fakes is the clasp.