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Collecting Native American
Art
Native
American BEADWORK
Native American beadwork
is popular everyday wear, particularly among women.
Necklaces, rings, earrings,
bracelets and pendants are among the most sought after contemporary
jewelry designs.
Like any other piece of
jewelry, materials used and the quality of workmanship contribute
greatly to the price, as does the overall aesthetic appeal.
In the case of Native American
beadwork, the reputation of a particular artist, like the reputation
of any designer, can lead to higher retail prices due to demand
for their work.
While sterling silver and
turquoise continue to be staples of Native American beadwork,
contemporary designs are incorporating touches of bronze and gold
and utilize other stones such as opals and rubies.
While the basis of the
design’s style and material remains traditional, the introduction
of new materials allow the artisan to add a personal touch and
style.
Despite these artistic
influences, most artists keep their design true to its roots,
and the following tribal trademarks are worth noting.
It has been the trend of
the Navajo artist to pick a stone and design a piece around it.
With a style often viewed as bold, Navajo silversmiths have been
known to apply simple complimentary braiding or more complex designs,
such as intricate feathers, leaves or flowers.
In contrast to the Navajo,
the Zuni Pueblo are known for their delicate approach to beadwork.
Using intricate inlays, the Zuni are known for painstakingly cutting
stones into small shapes to compliment the sterling silver inlay
in a precise design.
Generally limiting their
art form to Heishe beads, the Santo Domingo Pueblo Indians focus
on the use of stone and shell with sterling silver typically non-existent
in their designs.
The Santo Domingo Pueblo
perform their craft with the goal of maintaining the traditional
look and feel of ancestral pieces.
Providing a contrast to
their Santo Domingo brethren, the Hobi Pueblo people focus their
designs on silver with little use of decorative stone.
Known for their trademark
overlay designs, the Hobi reproduce important spiritual symbols
such as prayer feathers, kachinas and corn.
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