Two American Treasures

Friday, December 17, 2021 9:17 AM

Two American Treasures

If you have followed our emails for long, you know how we feel about Ray Lovato. This Santo Domingo jeweler is one of the last in that village who still hand grinds turquoise beads to make heishi jewelry.

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Coral Bead Necklaces from Santo Domingo Artists

Friday, December 10, 2021 11:57 AM

Coral Bead Necklaces from Santo Domingo Artists

Nothing is as striking as a necklace made of strands of red coral beads from Kewa (Santo Domingo) Pueblo.

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The Hopi Jeweler who wasn’t born a Hopi: Preston Monongye

Wednesday, September 8, 2021 10:42 AM

The Hopi Jeweler who wasn’t born a Hopi: Preston Monongye

When I was growing up and learning the Indian Arts and Crafts business, there were three Hopi artists that I remember the best.

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Necklaces from Zuni Pueblo

Saturday, July 17, 2021 12:26 PM

Necklaces from Zuni Pueblo

Back in the late 1960s and early 1970s, there was a huge boom in interest in Southwestern Native American art, but mostly in Indian jewelry. Turquoise and silver were the rage and, while much of the jewelry sold at that time was mediocre, and a lot of it was never touched by an actual Native American.

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Old Style Navajo Jewelry by Fritson Toledo

Tuesday, July 13, 2021 4:23 PM

Old Style Navajo Jewelry by Fritson Toledo

Back in December, we featured a Navajo artist named Fritson Toledo who was making some incredible jewelry that looked like it could have come out of the early 1900s.

That is not easy to do.

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Persian Turquoise in a Navajo Squash Blossom

Saturday, April 10, 2021 3:31 PM

Persian Turquoise in a Navajo Squash Blossom

I believe that the Squash Blossom necklace is one the most beautiful jewelry designs in the history of the world!

How’s that for a strong opinion?

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Water Bird, Peyote Bird: The Evolution of Jewelry

Back in the ‘60s and early ‘70s, when there was an explosion of interest in Southwest Indian jewelry, the Pueblo of Zuni was a very busy place. Silver and lapidary artists made jewelry as fast as they could and still couldn’t satisfy the market.

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Native American Crosses

Friday, March 26, 2021 1:36 PM

Native American Crosses

When the Spanish came to the Southwest, their mission was the three Gs: Gold, Glory and God. They used to teach that in school!

Gold, and riches, were the number one objective for the conquistadors.

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Former Country Rock Star Jimmy Poyer

Sunday, February 7, 2021 3:48 PM

Former Country Rock Star Jimmy Poyer

Toh-Atin Gallery has been working with Jimmy Poyer for over thirty years. Before that, he was the leader of the Jimmy Poyer Band and traveled all over the country playing country music.

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Karl Nataani, Navajo Silversmith

Tuesday, January 5, 2021 11:54 AM

Karl Nataani, Navajo Silversmith

One of the nicest people I have met in the last few years is a silversmith named Karl Nataani. Karl is about my age, and lives on the Navajo reservation north of Winslow.

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Beaded Buckles

Monday, December 28, 2020 11:42 AM

Beaded Buckles

Many tribes have artists who make beaded buckles. Most of these are created by sewing buckskin, or another type of leather, over a brass buckle and then sewing the glass beads to the leather.

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Classic Old "New" Navajo Jewelry by Fritson Toledo

Wednesday, November 25, 2020 10:17 AM

Classic Old

There is something about the look of old Navajo Jewelry. It just has a classic feel, made at a time when the style of the jewelry was not influenced by current fashion and artists didn’t have access to modern tools and materials.

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