Journal
Collectors of vintage Native American jewelry are making more than a connection to the art of the past. They are capturing tangible evidence of the interconnectedness of culture. Each piece acquired is the result of historic communication, not only by the artist or community which nurtured them, but also by everyone they came in contact […]
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Handmade jewelry reflects much more than a work of art or a beautiful adornment. Often it is a family tradition as well, preserving the skills and knowledge handed down through generations of artisans to create new heirlooms for today. That tradition is a part of Darwyn Cowboy’s lineage. He is a fifth generation bead maker, the latest in his family to take up the craft of creating the...
The squash blossom necklace is a reflection of history, art and culture. Art is a fluid medium, changing and adapting to the spirit of the artist and the perceptions of the surrounding culture. Even styles which become associated with a particular group or time period can be the result of interactions with other communities in the […]
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The Navajo lands, which they call, “Dine Bikeyah.” Four Sacred Mountains (San Francisco Peaks, Mount Blanca, Mount Taylor, and La Plata Mountain) approximately delimited the sacred land. The Navajo Tribe live in close proximity to other groups who also came to the southwest and brought with them their ancestral language of the Athabaskan family: the Na-Dené […]
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Throughout the arid world, native and aboriginal peoples held turquoise in high regard for spiritual reasons. Ancient Egyptians entombed their Pharaohs with turquoise-studded jewelry, and the Persians associated the mineral with victory and holiness. Traditional Native Americans, including the Aztecs and Mayas to the South, associate it with communication with spirits, good fortune, and healing. […]
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