Random Thoughts on Native American Indian Jewelry

Heart Jewelry for Valentine's Day

2012-01-13T21:28:00.002-05:00

Here's a few Valentine's Day gift ideas for the Native American jewelry lover in your life!

Navajo Calvin Begay Double Inlaid Heart Earrings

Native American Coral Heart Earrings, Everett & Mary Teller

Navajo Silver Overlay Turquoise Heart Earrings, Everett & Mary Teller

Navajo Silver Overlay Sugilite Heart Earrings, Everett & Mary Teller

La Rose Ganadonegro Navajo Turquoise Spiny Oyster Heart Pendant Necklace

Vintage Native American Silver Earrings, Frank & Brihilda Coriz, Santo Domingo

Navajo Purple Spiny Oyster Heart Pin

Navajo Sterling Silver Overlay Heart Pendant, Everett & Mary Teller

Navajo Sterling Silver Overlay Jewelry by Everett & Mary Teller

2011-08-28T22:52:00.007-04:00

Everett & Mary Teller are Native American Navajo Jewelry Silversmith Artists, living on the Navajo Reservation near the Four Corners (Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona), below the Lukachukai Mountains. They have been making jewelry full time for over 23 years. They enjoy working and traveling together as collaborative artists creating contemporary Navajo jewelry.

They say that their jewelry making is all self-taught. Along the way, they have received a few tips from very close friends, who are renowned award winning jewelers.

The Tellers create a high quality line of jewelry. All their work is hand made from sterling silver and 14k gold, with simple overlay Navajo basket and rug designs. They incorporate the storm pattern designs on all their jewelry pieces, which are then embellished with good quality turquoise, coral, lapis, charoite, sugilite, oyster shell and more. They also make hand woven silver chains and bola chords. And aside from jewelry, they make fine silver pottery bowls, seed pots, miniature tea sets, and wedding vases. All of their pieces are signed with their initials EMT inside a fish, symbolizing their Christian faith.

Mary Teller is a member of the Water Flows Together Clan and has been silversmithing since 1972. She was taught silversmithing by her mother, Margaret Bochinclonny. Everett was born in 1956 and is a member of the Coyote Pass Clan and the Going Around You Clan. He has been silversmithing since 1988.

Their work has been displayed at the Heard and Eiteljorg Museums, and they are popular favorites at all the Santa Fe Markets.

We have an extentive selection of jewelry made by these two innovative artists, from fabulous one of a kind, museum quality necklaces, to bracelets, rings, earrings and even miniature seed pots.

Click here to see our full selection of Everett & Mary Teller sterling silver jewelry and seed pots.

Featured Native American Artist: David Tune (Creek/Navajo)

2011-08-08T22:00:00.006-04:00

David Tune is a member of the Creek and Navajo Tribes. He began his professional career as a jewelry craftsman in 1976, when he was commissioned to design a jewelry ensemble for the National March of Dimes Poster Child and Past President Ford Senate. Since then, he has created some of the finest masterpieces of authentic Native American Indian jewelry with a contemporary flair.

The work of David Tune is very distinctive and easily recognizable. He works primarily in sterling silver and gold and uses authentic multi-colored coral, turquoise, lapis, sugilite, mother of pearl and various other materials, which each symbolize the six directions in life, in combination with his dramatic stamp work. His colorful and innovative jewelry inlays are inspired by the aerial views of the earth that he sees when hot air ballooning and skydiving. His creations include rings, necklaces, bolos, bracelets, earrings and concho belts. Every piece that is created by David symbolizes a special spiritual meaning. David stamps each of his pieces with the symbol of a sun surrounded by a circle.

Awards:

- 1983 Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial, Gallup, NM
- 1985 Best of Show, Red Earth, Oklahoma, OK
- 1986 Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial, Gallup, NM
- 1995 Best of Show, New Mexico State Fair
- 1997 1st Place Indian Art Show, Lawrence, KS
- 1999 Best of Show, Tulsa, OK Art Show

We have a nice selection of David Tune jewelry for sale on our website. David Tune Jewelry

Visit www.tumbleweedsjewelry.com to view our entire selection of handmade Native American jewelry by the top Navajo, Zuni, Hopi & Santo Domingo jewelry.

Featured Navajo Artist : Orville Tsinnie

2011-01-27T00:25:00.006-05:00

Orville Tsinnie is a master Navajo silversmith who has been making jewelry since the 1970s and has won numerous awards, including a Lifetime Achievement award from the Indian Arts and Crafts Association (IACA), an honor that brings well-deserved recognition to this fine American Indian artist. Orville is a perfectionist, hand picking and polishing only the highest quality natural stones. He cuts, polishes and sets the stones by hand. The level of craftsmanship in Orville's work is superior. His designs are flawlessly executed, his soldering technique very clean, and his finishing and polishing meticulous. This careful attention to detail sets Orville's jewelry apart from many others, and reveals the pride he takes in his work. A steady presence in the world of American Indian art for over twenty-five years, Orville Tsinnie's work is distinctive and stylish. Orville creates some of the finest and unique Native American hand made jewelry on the market today. His works are highly collectible.

We have an extensive selection of Orville Tsinnie hand made jewelry available for sale on our website.

Click here to view our current selection of Orville Tsinnie's jewelry

>We've had the opportunity to meet and purchase jewelry directly from Orville many times over the years and it is always a pleasure to visit with him and his wife Darlene. We often work directly with Orville to create custom jewelry for our customers. All the Orville Tsinnie jewelry we sell has been purchased directly from the artist.

Awards: Lifetime Acheivement Award IACA, many awards at the Santa Fe Indian Market, more.

Brought to you by www.tumbleweedsjewelry.com

Free Holiday Shipping from Tumbleweeds Jewelry

2010-11-21T00:11:00.000-05:00

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Free U.S.P.S. Priority Mail Shipping for all Native American jewelry purchases through December 25, 2010.

Visit www.tumbleweedsjewelry.com and also our Ebay store to see our complete selection of contemporary, vintage and dead pawn Native American Navajo, Zuni, Hopi & Santo Domingo Indian jewelry.

Featured Artist - Joseph Coriz, Santo Domingo (Kewa)

2010-08-10T15:58:00.009-04:00

The work of Santo Domingo silversmith Joseph Coriz is very distinctive and easily recognizable. He works primarily with sterling silver, rolled heishi beads, turquoise, coral and handmade silver beads. He creates some of the finest jewelry available today. We would like to highlight his work for you here.

Joseph Coriz is a Native American Indian who was born into the Santo Domingo Pueblo in 1958. He was inspired to follow in the footsteps of his parents, who were very successful at making beautiful handmade jewelry, and Videl Aragon, who was known for his fine silversmith petroglyph designs. They taught him all the fundamentals of working with beads and raw silver at a very young age. Joseph absorbed each piece of information about the traditional hand crafted jewelry and eventually developed his own style. He combines traditional methods with his own unique contemporary flare creating primarily sterling silver designs. He creates beautiful masterpieces of fine jewelry and has become one of the finest master silversmiths of our time.

Awards: Santa Fe Indian Market, Eight Northern Pueblo Art Show, Colorado Springs Art Show, New Mexico State Fair, Heard Museum Art SHow.

Click here to view a selection of Joseph Coriz's jewelry

New Calvin Begay Necklaces at Tumbleweeds Jewelry

2010-05-22T19:35:00.009-04:00

Fresh from a recent southwest Native American jewelry buying trip, Tumbleweeds Jewelry offers an extensive new selection of Calvin Begay necklace & earring sets.

This stunning necklace, designed by award-winning Navajo jeweler Calvin Begay, showcases Calvin's innovative inlay. Not only did are we offering a wonderful selection of Calvin Begay necklaces but we also have many rings, pendants, earrings and bracelets, all purchased directly in person from Calvin Begay!

Click here to see the entire Calvin Begay jewelry collection

Clayton Tom's Cosmic Bear Pendant

2010-03-24T10:20:00.015-04:00

The Cosmic Bear was first introduced by Navajo Calvin Begay and Clayton Tom in the 1990's. The design became so popular, it has been copied again and again by many other Native American artists. But this pendant pictured here is a brand new, original, handmade piece by Clayton Tom, purchased directly from the artist himself. Clayton's jewelry has consistently earned him top awards at major jewelry art shows and Indian markets and led to his recognition as one of the great masters of micro-inlay design and technique. His jewelry is always in big demand, frequently in short supply and often hard to find.

Buying Authentic Native American Jewelry

2010-03-04T22:55:00.012-05:00

Here are a few helpful educational websites with information for the Native American Jewelry buyer. The first is a link to a page on the Indian Arts & Crafts Association's website, entitled Tips For Consumers From their website: "IACA is a international not-for-profit trade association established in 1974 to support the ethical promotion and protection of authentic Native American art and culture. IACA works to stop fraud and abuse within the market through education, publicity, authentication and use of our logo to indicate certified ethical businesses. IACA sponsors the largest wholesale trade shows of handmade Indian art in the world twice a year. IACA's membership represents every link in the arts industry – from Native artists from the U.S. and Canada, to collectors, retailers, wholesalers, museums, government agencies, suppliers and other supporters of Native art." I am currently a member in good standing of IACA.

Here is another helpful Native American Jewelry buyers guide prepared by & provided under a cooperative agreement between the Better Business Bureau and the U. S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Entitled How to Buy Genuine American Indian Arts & Crafts, this article reinforces how important it is to trust the seller you are purchasing your Native American Indian Jewelry from. Make sure you are dealing with a seller who is informed, educated and who guarantees the authenticity of the jewelry you are buying.

My family has dealt in Native American and other antiquities for over 90 years, and I have specialized in Indian Jewelry for more than 20 years. I am in full compliance with the US Dept. of the Interior American Indian Arts & Crafts Act of 1990. And finally, I am a proud member of the Indian Arts and Crafts Association (IACA). This insures the authenticity of the jewelry I sell and protects your investment.

I make frequent trips to New Mexico and Arizona to hand select the jewelry we offer for sale on our website www.tumbleweedsjewelry.com. I buy directly from many of the artists or I buy through well respected traders who deal directly with the artists. As a member of the Indian Arts & Crafts Association, I attend the annual buyer's markets where I get to meet more artists every year. I enjoy promoting the work of the artists that I have personally met.

Read How to Buy Genuine American Indian Arts & Crafts
or IACA's Tips For Consumers now.

Bracelet Sizing Guidelines - How to determine your bracelet size

2010-01-31T17:21:00.008-05:00

Sizing for Cuff Style Bracelets

The best way to get a good fit is to measure a cuff bracelet you already have and compare the inside end-to-end measurement and the gap measurement with the measurements of the bracelet you are considering purchasing.

If you don't have a cuff bracelet to use for comparison, then follow this method:

First measure your wrist where you want to wear the bracelet.

Then look at the bracelet you are interested in and add: the inside measurement from end to end plus the gap.

If the two measurements are fairly close, the bracelet should fit properly. How well it will fit will depend on whether you like to wear your cuff bracelet tight or loose, alone or with other bracelets, in front of or behind the prominent bone on your wrist. Therefore, you may want to add 1/2 inch to 1 inch to the measurement depending upon these variables.

For example, if your wrist measures 7" and you are looking at a bracelet with a 5-3/4" inside circumference and a 1-1/4" gap, then the bracelet will probably fit.

Many cuff bracelets are adjustable. They can be opened or closed up to about a 1/2 inch larger or smaller, depending upon the sturdiness of the bracelet. The types that are not easily adjustable are those that are made from very thick, heavy silver. CAUTION: Bracelets with inlaid stones across the entire front and sides should never be adjusted...at all.

To adjust your bracelet, be very careful how you adjust it so you don't damage it. If you try to bend an area of your bracelet where there is a stone or inlay, the stone may pop out or inlay may crack.

Sizing for Link Style Bracelets

To determine your bracelet size for a link style bracelet: measure your wrist where you want the bracelet to lay for the total length of the bracelet. If you prefer a snug, wrist-hugging fit, use the actual measured circumference of your wrist. If you like a draping, looser fit, increase your measurement by a 1/4" to 3/4" depending on your taste. Keep in mind that larger-link or chunky bracelets may fit more tightly than thin bracelets.

Visit www.tumbleweedsjewelry.com for a great selection of Native American hand made sterling silver bracelets!

How to Care for your Native American Jewelry

2009-11-06T19:20:00.011-05:00

Follow these tips to keep your Native American jewelry in excellent condition and looking its best for years!

CARE OF STERLING SILVER JEWELRY

Sterling Silver is actually somewhat soft and easily scratched if mishandled. One of the best and simplest way to care for sterling silver jewelry is to use silver polishing cloths that have been specially designed and treated for the purpose of cleaning sterling silver jewelry. These cloths are made of a felt-like material and are impregnated with special non-scratch micro-abrasives. You just rub the surface to be polished with medium pressure to remove tarnish and even light surface scratches. We recommend a cloth like the Sunshine Polishing Cloth, which we sell on our website.

We usually recommend that silver cleaning solutions, cleaners or creams not be used to clean Native American silver jewelry. Many pieces are set with stonework, and if the solutions are used, the stones can be damaged or the color of the stones may change. Many pieces are made with a technique in which the piece was intentionally blackened in strategic areas of the jewelry to provide design definition. Creams can settle in creases of jewelry and can not be removed without damage to the piece.

Special care should also be used when cleaning Hopi jewelry. DO NOT dip Hopi jewelry in any type of liquid silver polishing cleaner, nor should you use any other type of chemical silver polishing cleaner or solution because you will ruin the dark recessed oxidized areas. And hence the contrast of the design and the essence of Hopi jewelry will be lost. Use only a silver polishing cloth like the ones we sell and AVOID rubbing the dark recessed oxidized areas.

Keeping your sterling silver in the open air for extended periods of time without wearing it may cause it to tarnish. To prevent silver from tarnishing, place jewelry in a sealable plastic bag; for added protection, include an anti-tarnish strip. An important exception to this rule relates to jewelry that has been intentionally oxidized or antiqued, as part of the design. This type of jewelry should not be stored in airtight plastic bags, so simply punch a hole in the plastic bag.

CARE OF TURQUOISE JEWELRY

Turquoise is a beautiful stone that is porous so use caution when caring for and cleaning turquoise jewelry. Protect turquoise from prolonged sun exposure, extreme temperatures, cosmetics, perfumes, skin oils, grease, or any other harsh chemicals, as they might discolor the stone. When cleaning turquoise jewelry, use a very soft brush or a slightly damp soft cloth. Do not submerge turquoise in water and avoid using commercial jewelry cleaners, ultrasonic cleaners, chemicals or even soap. A polishing cloth is another safe way to clean or polish turquoise.

Remove jewelry before performing gardening, household tasks or any strenuous activity. Dirt can get into stone settings and scratching of surfaces is possible.

CARE OF INLAY JEWELRY

Remember to treat the inlay jewelry with extra care. Avoid dropping, banging or scratching inlay jewelry. Do not wash with soap and water. And, again, avoid using commercial jewelry cleaners, ultrasonic cleaners or chemicals to clean inlay jewelry. Instead, use polishing cloths to shine or clean inlay jewelry.

Do not attempt to reshape or bend a bracelet, necklace, ring or pendant with inlay or channel work. Do not re-size rings with channel or inlay work. Changing the shape of the underlying metal can loosen the stones. They can actually pop out while the item is being bent and/or the integrity of the setting can be compromised, so that the stones may fall out later on, without being noticed.

www.tumbleweedsjewelry.com

SUNSHINE POLISHING CLOTH - Jewelry cleaner - Safely cleans N/A silver jewelry

Books about Native American Jewelry

2009-10-19T10:42:00.017-04:00

I love sitting down with a good book about Native American jewelry, especially one with lots of color pictures! There are many wonderful books out there about Native American Jewelry. I have selected a few of our favorites below. You are welcome to add your favorite in the comments section below the post.

There are several very helpful books about Native American Jewelry Hallmarks. The one I use most often is "Hallmarks of the Southwest" by Barton Wright, which is available from Amazon. It's a little expensive so it is only worth the price if you are a collector or buyer of Native American Jewelry and think you may be using it frequently. Another helpful book for researching hallmarks on Hopi jewelry is called "Hopi Silver - The History and Hallmarks of Hopi Silversmithing" by Margaret Nickelson Wright. And for Zuni jewelry, I find the book "Zuni Jewelry" by Theda and Michael Bassman very useful. Some of these books are in their second printing, so look for the newest & most recent editions. They are all available on Amazon. Using these three books, you have a good chance of finding the hallmark, especially if the jewelry is older. But of course, these books don't reference the hallmarks of every Native American artist out there..only the more prolific ones.

If you have a specific question about the hallmark on a single or particular piece of jewelry, I might be able to help you. Email me pictures of the piece (front and back) with any other information you may have and I'll quickly research the hallmark for you. I'm not guaranteeing anything but I'm willing to give it a shot!

Here is a widget from Amazon that displays a quick blurb about a few of my favorite Native American Jewelry books. (There are three pages worth) If you are having trouble viewing the widget, turn your pop-up blocker off.

THREE GOOD REASONS TO BUY NATIVE AMERICAN JEWELRY

2009-08-26T02:32:00.016-04:00

1) HAND MADE, UNIQUE, ONE OF A KIND JEWELRY

Every piece of genuine Native American jewelry is a unique handcrafted piece of jewelry - no two pieces are identical. When you buy Native American made jewelry, you are buying something that is not factory made, mass produced or imported; it is handmade by Native American Indian artists who create unique, one of a kind, works of art.

The silversmiths, lapidarists and bead-makers from the Navajo, Zuni, Hopi and Santo Domingo tribes have gained a world-wide reputation for their beautiful and distinctive jewelry. Unlike much of the assembly-line manufactured jewelry on the market today, Native American art is painstakingly hand-crafted, carrying with it the artist's own unique style and personal vision. Indian jewelry is rich in culture and tradition, since Native Americans have been making jewelry for well over one hundred years.

Jewelry making techniques and traditions are passed down from generation to generation and many Native American artisans learned their craft at an early age by watching and later helping family members or tribal elders. Many of today's artisans follow the traditional ways; yet they may use a combination of old and modern tools and methods to produce their incredible masterpieces.

2) VALUE

How often can you purchase a handmade work of art, created by an established artist for a reasonable price? Native American jewelry is a great value, considering that it is made from genuine sterling silver, real turquoise, coral, lapis and other semi-precious stones. Silver is currently trading at over $14 an ounce. Most investors expect it to continue rising in price in the current economic climate. (Note: As of 8/10/2011, two years after this blog post was originally written, silver is trading at over $40 an ounce) Turquoise, a precious gemstone that has been used in jewelry for ages, appeals to most folks because every stone is unique in color, matrix and rarity. Yet even the highest grade natural turquoise from the best-known southwestern mines is relatively inexpensive. In recent years, many artists have begun using stones of all kinds as well as 14K gold in their jewelry, in addition to the traditional sterling silver and turquoise.

There are many well-known Native American artists working today, many of whom have been making jewelry for 20, 30, 40 years or more. These highly respected artisans have perfected their craft over the years and their reputation makes their work very popular. Even so, much of their jewelry is still very affordable. And if you are lucky enough to purchase a piece of jewelry from an artist before he or she becomes well-known, your piece will appreciate even more in value as the artist becomes more famous.

Well crafted Native American jewelry keeps and even increases its value over time. Purchasing and collecting authentic Native American jewelry is not only a passionate hobby for some but also a great investment!

3) SUPPORTING NATIVE AMERICAN ART, TRADITIONS AND LIVELIHOOD

Buying Native American made jewelry is a great way to support our indigenous Native peoples. The majority of Native Americans living in the southwestern pueblos and indian reservations are involved in handcrafting jewelry. This activity is their principle source of income. By investing in genuine Native American art, your investment helps families and communities pay for food, clothing and education. It promotes independence and helps maintain Native American art, culture and heritage.

We believe that these artists should be compensated fairly for their hard work and talent, so we always pay them their asking price for their jewelry. When you purchase jewelry from us, you can be assured that part of your money is going to the people who deserve it. Each piece of Southwestern jewelry is a true work of Native American art and you will be honoring and supporting the traditions and livelihood of our Native American tribes with your purchase.

Visit our website www.tumbleweedsjewelry.com or our Ebay store to shop for genuine Native American jewelry.

SANTO DOMINGO PUEBLO JEWELRY

2009-07-15T09:02:00.012-04:00

The Santo Domingos make some of the most beautiful inlaid shell and turquoise jewelry in the world. They are also well known for their handmade heishi. Close to ninety percent of natives living in the Santo Domingo pueblo are self-employed and working on jewelry and /or pottery.

There are many steps to making heishi in the old traditional ways. An olivella shell, for example, is cut into squares and holes are drilled in the centers. If the squares have large corners, they would be clipped off. Then the drilled pieces are strung on a wire and then ground on a flat stone, until eventually they are round. The beads are then sanded and polished. It is a very time-consuming process, although today with lapidary equipment, the process takes a little less time than doing it all by hand. There are some artists, though, who still follow the old traditional ways.

Many of the Santo Domingos today are doing mosaics (inlays) and there are many different styles. Some jewelry starts with a shell, others with a stone. The artist then spends time selecting and cutting the stones & shells for the inlay, deciding upon the pattern and design. It may take several days for some artists just to cut the stones to have enough materials for one project. The foundation stone or shell is then cleaned so that the epoxy sticks. The inlay is then meticulously assembled piece by piece to form the finished item.

We have a nice growing selection of Santo Domingo hand made jewelry, by artists such as Rudy & Mary Coriz, Stephanie Medina, Ron & Petra Chavez, Gary & Carol Pacheco, Daniel Coriz, Molly Tenorio, Veronica Tortalita and others. Click here or on the photo to see what Santo Domingo jewelry is available.

It is important for many artists to be at the pueblo, because the creative spirit is easier to capture if you live and work within the village, neighbor to neighbor, house to house.

We had the wonderful opportunity to visit with several artists in the village a few years ago. We had stopped at a flea market near the village, looking for jewelry, but only raw material was being sold at this particular flea market. A diminutive woman asked us if we were looking for finished jewelry, and when we responded "yes", she hopped into our car and directed us to her home in the village. She whisked us inside, set up a small card table, covered it with a dark cloth, and proceeded to display samples of her beautiful handmade jewelry on the table. Her son appeared within a few minutes with several cases of his beautiful innovative inlaid jewelry. He had won several awards recently for his necklaces. We were soon joined by her husband and he was a jeweler also. Our hosts were quite gracious and, since this was our first visit to Santo Domingo, we received quite an education. We left with several bags of gorgeous necklaces, pendants and bracelets and we have been partial to Santo Domingo jewelry ever since that day.

Unfortunately, The Santo Domingos are now competing with the Philippines and China. With the advent of modern lapidary equipment, some traders have taken the Santo Domingo's necklaces to the Philippines and China to copy, making the beads there and bringing home the finished product. Buyers can avoid the imports by buying from a reputable dealer. If the price is to low to be true, it's most likely imported.

Don't forget to visit our main websitewww.tumbleweedsjewelry.com for a great selection of Navajo, Zuni, Hopi and Santo Domingo Native American Indian Jewelry

HOPI SILVER OVERLAY JEWELRY

2009-05-09T12:42:00.022-04:00

This spring we had the opportunity to once again drive along Hwy 264 through the Hopi reservation located in northeastern Arizona. Located on the Colorado Plateau, the reservation of the Hopi tribe contains 1.6 million acres of land at elevations from 4,700 to 7,800 feet. Hopi Land is a high, sunny, arid desert with only ten inches of snow or rain a year. The Hopi have lived here and preserved their culture and their villages for well over one thousand years.

There are twelve Hopi villages located on the tops of or at the feet of three mesas, called First, Second and Third Mesas.

We stopped in at the Hopi Arts & Crafts Co-op Guild on Second Mesa, located next to the Hopi Cultural Center & Museum. We selected a number of elegant sterling silver overlay bracelets, earrings, pendants and buckles, all of which are for sale on our website here:

Hopi Silver Overlay Jewelry Collection. Click on the link above to see our latest selection of genuine Hopi silver jewelry.
And if you don't see what you want, you can try contacting the Guild directly:

Hopi Arts & Crafts-Silvercraft Cooperative Guild
P.O. Box 37
Second Mesa, Az 86043
928-734-2463

A little history about Hopi silversmithing:
In 1947, after World War II, returning Hopi servicemen were trained at a silversmithing school founded under the G.I. bill. The late Paul Saufkie, Sr. was the technical instructor and the late Fred Kobotie, taught design. Although many techniques of making silver were used, the overlay style gradually emerged as the dominate style. This simple, unique, elegant jewelry is now considered essentially "the" Hopi style of jewelry.
In 1949, they established a guild with its own hallmark. The Guild's purpose was to produce, purchase, promote, sell handcrafts and jewelry and to operate related activities. The Hopi Arts and Crafts Co-op Guild now has its own building on Second Mesa, Arizona, next to the Hopi Cultural Center & Museum. Any craftsman, potter, basketmaker, weaver or silversmith can have his or her work displayed and sold there. Half the building is devoted to work benches and supplies for the silversmiths.

When you buy from the Hopi Guild, you are buying quality and authentic pieces of jewelry. To assure authenticity, all Guild jewelry bears both the Hopi Guild sun symbol and the individual silversmith's clan mark (hallmark). Authentic Hopi jewelry sold outside of the guild is usually marked with either the silversmith's clan symbol or a registered silversmith's signature or initials.

Silver Overlay Jewelry:
Overlay is a process of soldering one piece of silver, from which a design has been cut, over another piece of silver. The top layer is a handmade, hand cut overlay created from a sheet of sterling that is then bonded to the base layer of sterling. The base layer background is usually oxidized, which turns the silver surface black, and is often scratched or stamped. The oxidation brings out a contrast between the two pieces and makes the individual designs more visible. This technique remains characteristic of Hopi style and was developed out of a project initiated by the Museum of Northern Arizona in 1930 to encourage the Hopi to develop their own unique jewelry, distinguishable from other Native American silversmiths. Hopi overlay pieces often tell a story, incorporating several images into one piece of jewelry.

Don't forget to visit our main websitewww.tumbleweedsjewelry.com for a great selection of Navajo, Zuni, Hopi and Santo Domingo Native American Indian Jewelry

2009 Indian Arts & Crafts Association (IACA) Spring Market

2009-04-15T01:33:00.032-04:00

It was with great anticipation that my husband and I set off on a cross-country car trip, our destination being the 2009 Indian Arts & Crafts Association (IACA) spring market in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I had recently become a member of this organization, known for its ethical promotion and protection of authentic Native American art. This was IACA's 35th anniversary and I was looking forward to the opportunity to meet many of the member Native American artists and silversmiths who gather twice a year (in the spring and in the fall) to introduce and sell their work. The first two days of the market were for the trade only, while the final day was open to all IACA members. I was able to meet many Native American artists. The experience was both educational and exhilarating! The selection of fine innovative jewelry was astonishing!

First off, we met Navajo silversmiths, Gene & Martha Jackson, some of whose jewelry is shown in the photo below. Martha and Gene Jackson are Navajo silversmiths from Chinle, Arizona. They have been making beautiful handcrafted sterling silver jewelry since the 1980s. They are featured in many Native American jewelry books and have won many awards.

Next, we wandered over to their son, Tommy Jackson's, booth. Tommy Jackson is one of the best new contemporary Navajo jewelers working today. Tommy learned the basics of silversmithing from his father Gene and began creating jewelry in 1973, and became a full time silversmith in 2002. Prior to that he and his wife Marita, who is also an award winning jeweler, taught elementary school on the Navajo reservation at Wide Ruins, Arizona.

Tommy specializes in inlay and old-style designs using high quality American stones, including Bisbee, Landers, #8 mine, Royston and Blue Gem. A superb craftsman, his bracelets, concho belts, buckles, necklaces and pendants have won numerous awards at the Santa Fe Indian Market, the Heard Museum Indian Shows, and the Gallup Indian Ceremonial.

You can view some of Gene, Martha & Tommy Jackson's jewelry on our website here

I've always had a fondness for sandcast and tufacast silver jewelry, so the jewelry of Ira Custer immediately caught my eye. Ira is a top-prize winning jeweler from a family of silversmiths. He began jewelry making actively in 1990. His background in silver-smithing came from his parents, Benny and Emily Custer and from his grandparents. He specializes in traditional and contemporary tufacast and sandcast jewelry. He is currently using the Tufa stone (volcanic ash) process to cast his silver jewelry. He and his brother have given tufa stone casting demonstrations at the I.A.C.A. market, that unfortunately I missed.

Typically a tufa stone is cut in half, then the design is carved into just one of the interior sides of the tufa stone. After the carving is done, the two halves of the tufa stones are tightly joined with a strip of rubber. A channel is cut from the top of the design, so that the molten silver can flow into the design. The tufa leaves a textured surface on the metal. The piece is then removed from the mold and finished as desired. See all items by Ira Custer

Some of the Native American silversmiths that we met at the market and whose jewelry we now have available for sale on our website are :

Ira Custer

Shane Hendren

L. Bruce Hodgins

Gene & Martha Jackson

Tommy Jackson

Christopher Nieto

Orville Tsinnie

Everett & Mary Teller

Taking Special Requests !!

2009-03-10T15:53:00.009-04:00

It's about time for our spring Native American Indian Jewelry buying trip to New Mexico. We wanted to let our customers know about it a few weeks ahead of time for a couple of reasons. First, if there is anything that you would like us to search for, find, and/or pick up for you while we are out there, let us know. We will try our best to locate it for you. Email us pictures, descriptions, artist's names, hallmarks, or anything else that you think would be helpful. Second, this means our online and Ebay stores will be closed while we are away and we will be unable to ship anything. So if you have been thinking about buying something and might need it in the next few weeks, you may want to act now, so that we can ship it before we leave.

We are not sure of the exact dates yet, but we think we will be on the road between March 25 and April 15. We will be available by email throughout the trip.

You can find our latest selection of contemporary Native American Indian jewelry at www.tumbleweedsjewelry.com or you can find us on Ebay using our Ebay UserID of tumbleweedsjewelry or by clicking here Tumbleweeds Jewelry on Ebay We just received a great new collection of contemporary Indian jewelry. Many items are on sale these next few weeks...we need to reduce our current inventory before our trip.

We will be attending the IACA (Indian Arts & Crafts Association) spring wholesale market in Albuquerque, New Mexico and then traveling on to Gallup, where we usually find the best selection of beautiful handcrafted Indian jewelry. Gallup is sometimes called the "Indian Capital of the World", for its location in the heart of Native American lands. There are many Native American peoples in the Gallup/Four Corners region. Route 66 also runs through Gallup. There are over 100 trading posts, shops and galleries in Gallup, making the town the undisputed Southwestern center for original Native American art.

The trading post experience is relatively unique to Gallup as a city. While isolated trading posts do exist on the reservations and in remote small villages, Gallup is the only large town in the Southwest that still hosts this unique mercantile tradition in any significant numbers. Pawn shops abound in Gallup. We have several favorite pawn shops where we get all of our dead pawn Indian jewelry.

We will also stop at our friends in New Mexico who own a Western Art & Native American auction house. They let us browse and rummage through their warehouse, looking for old indian jewelry & other Native American antiquities.

We always buy way too much on these trips. But our thoughts are, since we have travelled all the way out here from New Jersey, we might as well make it worth the effort. At least the cost of gas will be lower this year than it was last year. We can't wait to get on the road again.

Blend with the earth and celebrate life! (from an old Hopi saying)

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BUY INDIAN! Promoting authentic Native American Indian Jewelry

2008-09-27T12:42:00.001-04:00

It's shameful! A substantial percentage of the jewelry sold as Native American jewelry is actually made in China, the Philippines, India, Indonesia, Mexico and is misrepresented as Navajo or Zuni. Cheap imported knock offs hurt hardworking and talented Native American craftspeople as well as legitimate Native American jewelry sellers. It's harmful to the entire Native American jewelry market! If authenticity is important to you, buy only from reputable sellers who offer genuine Native American made merchandise. Please support our indigenous Native American artists.

Tumbleweeds Jewelry is a member in good standing of IACA - the Indian Arts & Crafts Association - which is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to support the effective protection, ethical promotion and preservation of American Indian arts and crafts. "IACA works to stop fraud and abuse within the Indian art market through education, publicity, authentication and use of its logo to indicate certified ethical businesses. IACA was formed when members of the Indian arts and crafts industry became concerned when imitations and imports were flooding the marketplace. They realized that by joining forces they could work more effectively to promote authenticity and find ways to educate the buyers and public about American Indian art."

"The IACA logo assures buyers and collectors of purchasing with confidence. The symbol is copy-righted and only members of the Association are allowed to use it. As a member, each artist and business agrees to honestly and ethically represent their merchandise and to abide by all state and federal laws."

The above quoted material above was taken from the IACA website. You can visit their website at www.iaca.com You can see that I proudly display the IACA logo on my website www.tumbleweedsjewelry.com When you are purchasing Native American Indian Jewelry, look for the IACA logo!

All of the jewelry that I sell is AUTHENTIC Native American handcrafted jewelry. I purchase most of the new items directly, in person, at the reservations or from the artists themselves. Most new items come with a Certificate of Authenticity. The pawn items are purchased by me, in person, from reputable Southwestern pawn shops with whom I have dealt for many years. Most of the vintage pieces are obtained from friends of my family who run a Western and Native American Art auction house in New Mexico. They have been in business for many years and are very knowledgeable. And finally, my family has dealt in Native American and other antiquities for over 90 years, and I have specialized in Indian Jewelry for the last 20 years. This insures the authenticity of the jewelry I sell and protects your investment.

NATIVE AMERICAN INDIAN JEWELRY: FREQUENTLY USED TERMS

2008-09-01T12:04:00.004-04:00

THIS BLOG ENTRY PROVIDES A BASIC EXPLANATION OF SOME OF THE COMMONLY USED TERMS IN THE NATIVE AMERICAN JEWELRY MARKET TODAY

VINTAGE. Most people agree that when an item is described as vintage, it means that the piece is a minimum of 25 years old.

FRED HARVEY ERA. The Santa Fe Railway and the Fred Harvey Company with its hotels, restaurants, and shops joined forces to promote mass tourism to the Grand Canyon, New Mexico, and Southern California by train over the years from 1896 through the mid-1960s. The Fred Harvey Company introduced the art of the Southwest's Native Americans to the rest of the nation. The Fred Harvey Company, as it "civilized" the southwest, enticed American tourists to visit. As part of the business, Navajo and Pueblo silversmiths (as well as other craftsmen) were hired to create souvenirs. The Harvey Company supplied the artisans with sheet silver and pre-cut turquoise. During the early part of the 20th century, the west boomed and this increased the demand for cheaper souvenirs. Fred Harvey era jewelry is quite collectible today.

COIN SILVER, STERLING SILVER, MEXICAN SILVER. I test all my vintage unmarked silver jewelry to determine silver content.

FINE SILVER is 99.9% pure silver or better. This grade of silver is used to make bullion bars for international commodities trading. Fine Silver is considered to be too soft for general use or use in jewelry.
STERLING SILVER is 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper. Today most Sterling silver objects are usually stamped with either the word "Sterling" or ".925". But much of the older Native American handcrafted jewelry was unsigned and unmarked.

COIN SILVER is 90% pure silver and 10% copper. Coin Silver is lower grade than sterling. The Coin Silver standard was established in the US in the 1820s. This grade of silver was used in the silver coinage of the US hence the term "coin" silver. Before the practice was outlawed, I believe Native Americans would melt down silver American and Mexican coins to make jewelry until they were able to obtain commercially made ingots and sheet silver.

MEXICAN SILVER is purer than sterling, usually 95% pure Silver and 5% Copper.

DEAD PAWN JEWELRY. For the Southwestern Native Americans, pawn refers to the practice of converting jewelry into cash by using it as collateral for loans from authorized pawn shops. In times of need, jewelry and other items of value are used as security by authorized traders (pawned) for cash loans. The state laws governing pawn shops are very strict to protect the consumer. Pawn is also used by some Native Americans in the same way that a safety deposit box would be used. The jewelry is "pawned" for safe keeping in between religious ceremonies or other special occasions. However, if the loan or pawn fees are not paid up by the agreed date, the pawn shop or trader is then authorized to sell the jewelry. When jewelry is not redeemed by its owner by the expiration date, it is then referred to as Dead Pawn.

TURQUOISE : NATURAL, TREATED, STABILIZED, ENHANCED. Generally, turquoise can exist in one of two forms. Natural or virgin turquoise has simply been shaped and polished, and has not been treated in any way. Treated turquoise has been changed through addition or processing. This procedure will make the sensitive gemstone sturdier. While natural turquoise is often the most desirable, keep in mind that simply because turquoise is treated, it does not mean it is of lower quality. In fact, stabilization usually enhances the quality of the stone. Usually the color is more vibrant and the stone is harder and less prone to chips and cracks. Among the ways of treating turquoise, treatments can include wax, staining, plastics impregnation or colloidal silica deposition. These methods stabilize the turquoise, and when successful, they darken the color and fill in the pores in the stone. Stabilizing treatments can also increase stone hardness and therefore its shearing strength, making it easier for artisans to work with it. However, the kind of treatment differs considerably. It makes sense, that naturally beautiful stones which have simply been waxed or hardened with artificial resin achieve higher prices than stones that have received color-enhancement. But other factors, such as the mine from which the gemstone was obtained and the rarity of the gemstone, also help determine the price and value.

JEWELRY MAKING TERMS.

BEZEL. A thin strip of silver rimming a stone and holding it to the setting. Bezels come in both simple and fancy styles. A plain bezel has a smooth flat edge. A scalloped bezel has a series of curved or scalloped projections along the edge securing or hugging the stone in place. A saw cut or serrated bezel has a series of jagged or pointed projections along the edge, which sometimes resembles a saw blade and keeps the stone set securely to piece. A gallery bezel is an ornately designed pierced wire used as a decorative appliqué to secure stone to the piece.

INLAY. A design of various shells or stones ground flat on top and level with the surrounding silver.

CHANNEL INLAY. A design of shell or stone set with a silver bezel between each stone. The stones are sanded level and polished.

ETCHED INLAY. Ornamentation where a picture or design is etched into the surface of the stone or inlay.

NEEDLEPOINT. An oval stone ground to fine points at both ends and set in a silver bezel.

PETIT POINT. An oval stone ground to a fine point at one end, rounded at the other end and set in a silver bezel.

SNAKE EYE. A series of very small, round stones, each of which is set in a bezel.

CLUSTER. A group of large tear-drop or round stones individually set, usually arranged around a center stone or stones.

HEISHE. Shell that has been cut, drilled and ground into round pieces and strung on a necklace. One strand may consist of several hundred pieces.

REPOUSSE. A metalworking technique in which a malleable metal is ornamented or shaped by hammering from the reverse side.

CHASING. Chasing is the opposite technique to repoussé, and the two are used in conjunction to create a finished piece. While repoussé is used to work on the reverse of the metal to form a raised design on the front, chasing is used to refine the design on the front of the work by sinking the metal with a groove, furrow, channel or indentation.

STERLING SILVER OVERLAY TECHNIQUE. This technique uses multiple layers of sterling silver soldered together to create a three dimensional effect. The top layer is a handmade, hand cut overlay created from a sheet of sterling that is then bonded to the base layer of sterling. The base layer background is usually oxidized, which turns the silver surface black, and is often scratched or stamped. The oxidation brings out a contrast between the two pieces and makes the individual designs more visible.

SANDCAST. One early technique still used by Navajo silversmiths today is making silver castings in sand or stone molds. The artist carves a design into damp sand or tufa (a porous volcanic stone). Pumice or sandstone may also be used. A second flat stone is secured on top to complete the mold. Silver is then melted in a crucible and it is poured into the mold through a carved channel. It flows through to the bottom where it cools and hardens, filling the design space. Air vents allow steam to escape, preventing air bubbles from forming in the cooling silver. After cooling, the stones are separated and the casting is removed. The silver is then filed smooth and the stone setting and decorative silver work, if any, begins. The piece poured from the tufa mold can be used as a model for additional copies of the design. It is possible to repeat the design over indefinitely using casting sand.

ANTIQUING. Technically referred to as oxidization, antiquing is a process of darkening silver with a chemical to create contrast or to accent a silverwork design. This process also gives the silver an antiqued look.

VISIT TUMBLEWEEDS JEWELRY ON THE WEB AT www.tumbleweedsjewelry.com
FOR A GREAT SELECTION OF VINTAGE, DEAD PAWN AND CONTEMPORARY NATIVE AMERICAN INDIAN JEWELRY