Native American metalwork
Native American metalwork encompasses a rich tradition of crafting objects from metals, primarily copper and silver, that dates back to around 4000 B.C.E. The earliest known use of metal in North America comes from the Great Lakes region, where native copper was skillfully hammered into various tools and decorative items. This practice marked the beginning of what is referred to as the Old Copper culture, characterized by the use of copper as a malleable material without the development of true metallurgy.
By the time of European contact, certain tribes in the Northeast, such as the Seneca and Cayuga, began to repurpose European silver coins into jewelry. The craft of silversmithing evolved significantly in the Southwest, influenced by Mexican techniques introduced to the Navajo in the mid-19th century. This led to distinct stylistic developments, with Navajo pieces often featuring die-stamp designs and Zuni work known for its intricate details.
Native American metalwork is renowned for its variety and beauty, producing items such as bracelets, earrings, and concha belts, often incorporating turquoise alongside silver. While mass-produced imitations of Native American jewelry exist, they frequently lack the authenticity and artistry of traditional hand-crafted pieces, reflecting the unique cultural heritage and creativity of Native American artisans.
Subject Terms
Native American metalwork
Tribes affected: Hopewell prehistoric tradition, Northeast tribes (especially Cayuga, Iroquois, Onondaga, Seneca), Southwest tribes (especially Navajo, Zuni)
Significance: Copper and, more recently, silver, have been used extensively for Indian ornamentation
The earliest examples of metals being used in North America date to around 4000 b.c.e. In the Great Lakes region, pieces of native copper were gathered and hammered into lance points and decorative or ritual objects. Archaeologists have discovered necklace beads composed of thin copper strips and fish-shaped pieces fashioned from the same metal during this era. These people from the so-called Old Copper culture did not practice true metallurgy, since the native metal was simply beaten and treated as a malleable stone. Copper ornaments and weapons produced by cold hammering, and some engraved sheets of silver of the Hopewell people, have also been found that date to the Common Era. The use of copper for personal ornamentation is one of the most striking differences between North American tribes and the pre-Columbian cultures of South and Central America, where gold was extensively used. Most North American tribes lacked any effective metalworking skills until after contact with other cultures, whereas the sixteenth century Spanish explorers of the New World found well-developed metalwork skills in Mexico and Central America.
By the seventeenth century, Northeast tribes, such as the Seneca, Cayuga, and Onondaga, hammered, shaped, and cut European silver coins for jewelry. The more intricate techniques of silverworking were introduced to the Southwest Navajo by Mexican silversmiths during the early second half of the nineteenth century. Later, the Zuni (Pueblo) learned the craft from the Navajo. The Navajo style was distinguished by die-stamp designs that showed off the metal itself. Zuni work was more intricate in detail, and die work was rarer.
Indian silversmiths produce work of extraordinary variety and beauty that reflects the unique creativity of Indian art. Bracelets, rings, earrings, necklaces, bow guards, concha belts, and buttons are only a few of the objects that, through the years, have been created from hand-wrought silver. Turquoise, which was frequently used in ornamentation long before the introduction of silversmithing, has also featured prominently in Indian silverwork. Although commercial imitations of Navajo and Zuni work have been mass produced for the tourist market in the twentieth century, they are unable to reproduce the beauty of authentic hand-made pieces.