Turquoise has captured imaginations and fueled the artistry of civilizations for thousands of years. It is mined throughout the world and can be found in a variety of shades, including the sky blue this stone has become known for. This opaque stone has been used as adornment by some of the earliest civilizations known to man.  Archeologists have discovered turquoise in the tombs of Ancient Egyptian kings. The Aztecs also used the stone and its use in China dates back to the Shang Dynasty.  In the United States, this stone is most closely known as a primary material used in...

The Hopi are Arizona's oldest permanent residents; a peaceful tribe that settled on ancestral lands overlooking northern Arizona more than one thousand years ago. They reside on three scenic mesas that boast the nation's oldest continuously inhabited village. Like their Southwestern neighbors, the Zuni and Navajo, ornamentation has played an integral role in the Hopi's culture and history. The early Hopi produced carvings and beads crafted from stones, shell, bone and wood. These items were not only beautiful, but often served a spiritual function. Hopi Jewelry as we know it today came into existence much later, long after the tribe was first...

The Zuni tribe, now located in northwestern New Mexico, was the second Native American group to learn Mexican silversmithing techniques. Navajo artist Atsidi Chon initially taught the art to a member of the Zuni tribe. Their artisans refined the Navajo cluster work technique, characterized by a series of shaped stones glued into bezel settings. Cluster work later evolved into the more intricate petit point and needlepoint styles. Though bezel-set cluster necklaces and bracelets can still be found, most modern Zuni jewelry is characterized by stone inlays, animal shapes and a bold use of color. Inlaid pieces are extremely popular due to their...

  The Navajo Nation, also known as the Diné Nation, is the largest Native American tribe in the Southwest. They originated as a semi-nomadic population of hunters and gatherers who traded with Pueblo tribes and Spanish explorers. Jewelry, beads and other adornments are an integral part of the cultural heritage of the Navajo. Elaborate ornamentation has long been considered a sign of wealth within their community: the bigger and more elaborate a piece of jewelry was, the more respect the wearer commanded. Common features of Navajo jewelry include silver, large stones and organic shapes. While the Zuni are renowned for animal-shaped fetishes,...