Amazing American Indian Navajo Turquoise Jewellry and pieces from other American Indian makers

North American Turquoise has long been revered by the Indian peoples

The Navajo Indians were taught silver smithing by the Spanish and have made a good industry from their great skills.

A very fine inlaid pendant by Clayton Tom, this is truly outstanding quality

Combining Silver with precious stones and attractive mineral and shell, they are creating some outstanding traditional and modern pieces. The good news is that many are still affordable and the pieces that the artists that created them may become collected and recognised, which they certainly should be.

Calvin Begay inlaid Horse head, using Lapis, Turquoise, Onyx and Oyster shell into Silver

The Navajo are not the only people producing these fine items, many other peoples are also producing some great artworks in metal.

Dina Huntinghorse an Apache taught by her Navajo husband to make jewelry

An outstanding 'story' bracelet which is pierced and set with a Turquoise centrepiece

The Navajo were using Turquoise as decorative wear and in crafts before the combination with silver and learning the skills with silver, the Turquoise stone was associated with the sky and also with good fortune. It occurs in Nevada and Arizona, adjoining states and there is a strata of quality and desirability in the stones. 

Beautiful variations and colours often caused by mineral inclusions

The stone varies in hardness and quality and the harder and more attractive, so is the level of price. Sleeping Beauty is the most prized, Kingman, Bisbee and Nevada Creek are also highly regarded.

The Thunderbird is a highly regarded symbol by many American Indian people

Here is a 'shadow box' ring by Mike Arviso, the Turquoise is Kingman and set in a clasp over fixing.

Nevada Creek Turquoise ring

A fine piece of inlay by Ella Cowboy onto a ring base made by Richard E.Hoskie, The Nevada Creek stone has iron inclusions which give a vein effect to the stone.

A fine Thunderbird inlaid ring by Ella Cowboy

The fine work of inlay artist Ella Cowboy, a Navajo is top quality and her abilities to use the materials with the design should make these pieces very collectable.

Sterling Silver plain Thunderbird next to inlaid version

The inlaid ring at right has Meteorite crystal in which I did

Ella Cowboy inlaid Turquoise chips into silver ring

Large Indian Chief Head, Turquoise and Red Coral

Turquoise, Lapis, Red Coral and White Pearl

Fire Opal Thunderbird ring

By Richard E. Hoskie and Herman Tom

Ella Cowboy and Richard E. Hoskie Gemset Navajo ring

Covellite Thunderbird Ring by Richard E. Hoskie and Herman Tom

Zuni design Inlay, red Coral, Onyx, Turquoise and Pearl

Royston Turquoise Thunderbird ring

Thunderbird Gemstone ring by Richard E.Hoskie and Herman Tom

Silver Fox Thunderbird ring with Turquoise Chip inlay

Ring by Dina Huntinghorse, Turquoise and Lapis

Thunderbird Lapis inlay onto Silver by Silver Fox
These rings are available at

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Little-Silver-works?_trksid=p2047675.l2563

Dina Huntinghorse pierced Silver bracelet with Turquoise centre stone

I hope that you have enjoyed seeing these magnificent pieces of jewelry which are all made by American Indian people, they are just so much better to own than something soulless and mas produced, each one has the artist's own stamp making them truly exclusive.