Southwest Necklaces

Southwest American Indian necklaces have been made by Southwest Native American artists for thousands of years. When the American Indian silversmiths and artisans first started making sterling silver necklaces they used many different things that could be found within the tribal territory. Some of the materials used for ancient Southwest American Indian necklaces sometimes included shells and pieces of bone that were carved and hollowed out to be strung on animal sinew; they would also carve wood into beads and died them different colors.

Additional Southwest jewelry items that were incorporated into much of the Southwest American Indian necklaces were sometimes things that were sacred to the Southwest people, and also some tribes used precious stones such as turquoise, which is probably one of the most common stones seen on Native necklaces. The necklaces made by the Southwest tribes was different among all the tribes and their materials were the same until many tribes began trading among one another and also settlers soon arrived and trade increased. Much of the bead necklaces started out among many of the Plains and Woodland tribes that inhabited the Midwestern areas of the United States now.

It is believed that the Navajo people learned the art of being a silversmith from Spanish settlers. They took up the trade when they stopped being a nomadic tribe and settled down. The tools the Navajos used though were very crude, but what they accomplished with these was pretty amazing for the times. Southwest American Indians, especially the Navajos, are famous for their beautiful turquoise and silver Southwest American Indian necklaces. The Southwest people were extremely close with the earth and the majority of tribes were very spiritual people. They believed that certain animals such as birds and bears possessed special powers so they would carve these spirit totems into their necklaces and then wear them for good luck. The Necklaces of the Southwest can be seen worldwide today and is still very fashionable among the Southwest culture. American Indian bead work is popular to this day as well, but some of the most popular Southwest necklaces you will also see is some of the beautiful turquoise and silver hand crafted pieces.