Native American Art and Artists Blog

Whether you’ve purchased handcrafted Native American art as a memento of a trip to the Southwest, as a statement of fashion or style, or simply as an investment, you will want to take the best care possible of your newly acquired treasure. This convenient guide shows you how to care for authentic Native American crafts...

Native Americans have a deep connection to and respect for the natural world, and their reverence for nature deeply influences their art. Because of this importance, many Native artists choose to use bird or feather imagery in their art, pottery, or jewelry. Feathers of all birds, and especially eagles, are an iconic design in Native American jewelry and art.

Jewelry has been made and worn in the Southwest since prehistoric times. For thousands of years, Native Southwestern people made mosaic inlay and beads of turquoise, shell, bone, or stone. Today, Native American artists draw upon both traditional and contemporary influences, and their shell, gemstone, and silver jewelry is prized and collected by people around the world.

Native American jewelry created by the sandcasting or tufa casting process is often more valuable than other pieces because of the special talent needed to carve a design out of sand or stone, then pour molten metal into the mold, often creating a one-of-a-kind piece of wearable art that often has luxurious turns and curves, and a soft metallic patina. Read more in our collector's guide.