This beautiful book examines the first century of Navajo and Pueblo metal jewelry-making in the American Southwest. Beginning in the late 1860s, the region's native peoples learned metalworking and became accomplished silversmiths. Their work was united with a long-standing native traditon of beads and ornaments made from turquoise and other natural materials. The cross-cultural appeal of this jewelry continued into the mid-1900s, despite competition from tourist jewelry and mass-produced imitations. By the 1950s and 1960s, masters such as innovators Kenneth Begay and Charles Loloma created a legacy of fine art jewelry that is prized today. This development is discussed in the context of social changes and adaptations over the century. A values reference guide is also provided.
- ISBN10 0764312448
- ISBN13 9780764312441
- Publish Date 15 January 2001
- Publish Status Active
- Out of Print 28 August 2023
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Schiffer Publishing Ltd
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 212
- Language English