A Guide to Indian Jewelry of the Southwest

Rating:
Summary: Tiny size - lots of info
Review: This tiny 46-page book is big on information. In it, you'll learn to recognize tribal jewelry styles and techniques. Although the first native American to learn silversmithing is not known, it appears to have begun among the Navajo in the 1850s, then was passed to the Zuni and Hopi.

When the railroads opened the Wild West, silverwork began to respond not just to the tastes of the silversmiths themselves, but to the travelers looking for a souvenir of their encounter with the exotic Southwest inhabitants.

The Navajo developed their style of setting large stones into cast, hammered, and stamped silver. The Zuni made clusterwork their forte, setting small turquoise stones in silver, called petitpoint and needlepoint. You'll learn the differences among mosaic, channel, and overlay inlays, about Pueblo fetish, and Santo Domingo heishi. The book shows both old and modern jewelry styles and is pocket-sized for easy reference when shopping.