الخميس، 3 أكتوبر 2013

Discover The Beauty Of Navajo Jewelry

By Angel Dudley


Collectors of fine things often find themselves drawn to those created by artists who belong to the Native American tribes. Their craftsmanship is beyond reproach and each piece is a literal work of art. There is definite beauty to be found in authentic Navajo jewelry as each one is a unique creation.

The Navajo Nation is believed to have originated in the southwestern region of North America. Known as the premier silversmiths, they have built a name for themselves based on their attention to fine detail and a talent for amazing craftsmanship. They primarily work in turquoise and sterling silver though it is not unheard of for them to utilize other precious stones and various metals into their designs.

The stone's natural shape is usually what dictates the flow of a piece in this particular genre. They are not as well known for the use of inlays as other tribal craftsmen, though they do occasionally work it into the design. Their technique generally involves the utilization of silver as a separator between the various shapes being inlaid.

When most people think of this brand, the first thing that comes to mind is usually silver metal and blue stones. Many imitators try to pass their work off to uninformed buyers as authentic pieces though they are perpetrating a fraud on the innocent. Aside from certificates and appraisals, there are some ways in which one may be capable of doing a quick analysis to ensure they are buying real pieces.

Some imitators are exceptionally skilled in this style but they are no less still fakes and it is wrong to advertise as genuine. Each true artist specializing in this genre has a unique signature known as a hallmark which they place on everything they create. These items come in the form of a personal symbol, initial or picture and is used to identify the work of each authentic craftsman.

Performing a scratch test on the piece is another way to possibly determine a fake. Authentic artist in this style are not going to use anything other than genuine stones in their work. In the case of turquoise, if one scrapes the surface of the stone and sees white beneath, the item is a fake because a true product will maintain the blue all the way through.

There is a quite distinctive style used in this method of artwork. The work of this tribe's craftsmen is characterized by the use of chunky stones, usually turquoise because of its religious significance and representation of well-being, within simple settings of sterling silver. They are also well known for their squash blossom necklaces that are large and ornate with a crescent shaped pendant.

There are other features of authentic Navajo jewelry that gives it a very distinctive look and feel. A file decoration technique is often used to create very intricate details in the silver using finely honed tools which gives every individual piece a unique character and appearance. To provide a pop of color or perhaps some texture, coral and spiny oyster are occasionally used in addition to turquoise.




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