Native American handmade jewelry has become an unforgetable art. An extreme amount of effort is put into making a piece of jewelry by hand. Some of the stone inlay and silver design techniques can take from hours to even days to complete. It is not well known to outside audiences how much work it actually takes to create these beautiful masterpieces. Native-Tribes would like to give an acknowledgment to all of those Navajo, Hopi, and Zuni artists who pour their lives into this intensive and intricate craft. We would like to give a brief description of this process so that you may understand what makes this jewelry so valuable and gain an appreciation of the art.
"The video on the right is a documentation about how to make Native American jewelry directed and produced by Steve Yellowhorse, a Navajo silversmith and edited by Dr. Roy E. Howard of western New Mexico University. This video gives amazing incite as Steve takes you through the step by step process of handmade jewelry creation."
Jewelry Designs from Thoughts to Reality
The jewelry first appears in the artists mind; the maker then takes that image and turns it in to reality. Many steps are taken during this creative process, because there are different approaches of doing the same thing, the order of the way things are done might also be slightly different. An artist may prefer to choose a stone first and base the design around that stone before getting started. A blue print or a rough sketch is usually drawn out on paper. This is done to help visualize and customize the patterns and designs on the item, such as, where the design is going to go, and is it going to require other stone center pieces or other materials. The sketch also allows the artist to acquire the amount of those materials needed as well as the rough measurements for each the components. Materials can be chosen according to the requirements of the design and the value the artist wants to put into the jewelry.
The patterns and symbols that are used in the design on the jewelry are up to the creativity of the artist. This is an area where the designers can show of their creativity, talent and individuality. These symbols that are used can reflect the maker’s personality, many choose to use symbols from their native history, religion, or even the surrounding nature. Many famous artists are well known for a particular design.
The Way of the Silversmith
Silversmiths manipulate silver metal to their desired shape. To continue making jewelry one must know how to work metal and most modern Native American jewelry makers are silversmiths. Now that the jewelry idea is motion, and the proper stones and designs have been decided upon, the artist must now choose the silver that he will use. An active jewelry maker will have plenty silver pieces in many different shapes and sizes that can be used.
According to the jewelry style, a variety of silver pieces will be chosen to accommodate the intended designs. The silver metal will be measured and cut to the specifications which were decided upon in the sketch or blueprint. Rough shapes of the jewelry designs are cut out of silver sheets, silver rods and wires are cut to desired lengths. Sections of the silver are shaped and bezels the clasp the holds the stone in place. Through several techniques these pieces of silver are cut, trimmed, and sculpted to their desired form. Depending on the specific jewelry design many methods are applied to give the preferred look, depending on the shape, and size of the item this could take a very long time. Stones are fitted and fixed in their custom bezels. Skillfully the artist adhere the finished piece together with a soldering devise like pieces of a puzzle. The artist will continue to sand and trim the trinket until he feels it is complete.
After all of that there is still much work to be done. The jewelry must be sanded and polished using special wheels to take out all of the scratches and imperfections. Usually around this time a hallmark will be engraves within the jewelry as a signature of the maker. Sometimes special oils are used to shine the finished product even further. The jewelry is finally complete and can be set on display for the world to see.
Learn about the supplies you can use for making jewelry! On this site, you will explore the different elements of design. You will find information on products, techniques, ideas and concepts.
Overlays are made using two sheets of sterling silver. The silversmith creates and cuts the designs from the top layer or sheet. The artist then oxidizes the appropriate areas of the bottom layer or sheet of sterling silver. The two layered sheets are then bond together with special welding techniques. This technique is often seen in Hopi Jewelry.
Inlay jewelry is a decorative art that involves layers of fine materials set into a surface in order to create a design or pattern. A variety of materials can be used to create inlay jewelry. Native American jewelry usually is made up of different semi-precious stones. The combined stone positions reveal a distinctive design or pattern. This special technique is often seen in Zuni Jewelry.
The jewelry first appears in the artists mind; the maker then takes that image and turns it in to reality. Many steps are taken during this creative process, because there are different approaches of doing the same thing, the order of the way things are done might also be slightly different. An artist may prefer to choose a stone first and base the design around that stone before getting started. A blue print or a rough sketch is usually drawn out on paper. This is done to help visualize and customize the patterns and designs on the item, such as, where the
design is going to go, and is it going to require other stone center pieces or other materials. The sketch also allows the artist to acquire the amount of those materials needed as well as the rough measurements for each the components. Materials can be chosen according to the requirements of the design and the value the artist wants to put into the jewelry. 
Silversmiths manipulate silver metal to their desired shape. To continue making jewelry one must know how to work metal and most modern Native American jewelry makers are silversmiths. Now that the jewelry idea is motion, and the proper stones and designs have been decided upon, the artist must now choose the silver that he will use. An active jewelry maker will have plenty silver pieces in many different shapes and sizes that can be used.
and fixed in their custom bezels. Skillfully the artist adhere the finished piece together with a soldering devise like pieces of a puzzle. The artist will continue to sand and trim the trinket until he feels it is complete. 
