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PlanningNavajoBof

I'll bring some books on Navajo jewelry, as well as Hopi, Zuni, and Santo Domingo jewelry, which are all quite different stylistically. I'll bring some info on turquoise itself, which is a fascinating, infinitely varied stone. I'll give you some tips on spotting and avoiding the phillipino couterfeits that are so common today. I'm certainly not perfect, but I can spot some of the worst ripoffs. Jerry said he'd bring some material on Navajo rugs.

I'll provide some links to good websites here, so that you can browse some of what is available on the market today.

Please don't be intimidated by the prices on some of this stuff. I do buy some expensive jewelry, but I paid $50 for one of my favorite pair of earrings. Good jewelry is available in all price ranges.

What do you want to learn about Navajo jewelry? What questions do you have, what things interest you about the subject?

--SuePetersen 2004.10.13

Here are some websites that you may find interesting. Some of these sites I know and trust, some of them I've stumbled across on the web and bookmarked but have never bought anything from them. In general, I am very skeptical of galleries and websites, because there is an enormous amount of counterfeit and just plain faked jewelry out there. I've tried to only list sites that appear to be genuine, to the best of my abilities, but...

Is is against the law to misrepresent indian jewelry. However, it's a law that is routinely broken. :-( Many sellers buy jewelry knockoffs and counterfeits made in the Phillippines and then sell it in this country as 'Real Indian Jewelry'. This has made it very difficult for the native american artist to make a living at his or her art. Please be suspicious.

The Indian Arts and Crafts Association has some good advice. http://www.iaca.com/update/frames2.htm

This site has some info on turquoise, and the various American mines. They have some lovely pictures. However, remember these things.

• Every mine produces stones of varying quality and varying color. Nobody can absolutely identify a stone once it's left the mine. They can make a good guess, but that's all.
• Chinese turquoise mines are producing some great stones, even though they aren't as 'romantic' as owning a stone from the Bisbee or Lander Blue mine. :-)
• There's nothing wrong with buying treated turquoise, as long as you know what you're buying and it's priced appropriately.

http://www.skystonetrading.com/turquoise.asp http://www.skystonetrading.com/turq_mines.asp

Garlands Jewelry is an old gallery in Sedona. They have a wonderful reputation with both buyers and artists.They aren't cheap but they are definitely worth it! I've bought several pieces from them over the years. http://www.garlandsjewelry.com/

Lovena Ohl is in Scottsdale and I definitely want to visit this trip. They appear to carry the best artists, and I've seen the gallery mentioned in many of the books and articles in my collection. I've never been in the store.

Another old name in Indian Jewelry. I've never dealt with them, but they are featuring several artists that I'm interested in.

Price Dewey has some superb pieces on their website, many of them by extremely well known artists.

Tanner-Chaney is in Albuquerque. Very old, very reputable, very knowledgeable. I trust them.

The Heard Museum in Phoenix has an online store. The Heard is a big name in Indian Jewelry, definitely worth a visit. http://www.heardmuseumshop.com/

Richardson's is in Gallup. Very old, very reputable. They carry an enormous stock of jewelry, much of it in the old traditional style and true pawn. I trust them.

SedonaWolf is based in Sedona. I don't know them well, but I did just buy a bracelet from them. (I may wear it this trip.) They certainly appear to be knowledgeable and they carry many well-known artists. http://www.sedonaindianjewelry.com/

Michael Kabotie, Hopi painter and jeweler: http://www.kabotie.com/Pages/jewelry.html

Alvin Yellowhorse, Navajo jeweler: http://www.aycustoms.com/ If you look at his second page of rings and earrings, the black bear earrings are mine. :-)

NaNa Ping: http://hometown.aol.com/nanaping/myhomepage/business.html