Antique Indian Jewelry Is A Reflection of the History of the West

Native American jewelry is unique in the world. Antique Indian jewelry can be seen in the oldest photographs taken by the frontier photographers as they documented the changing culture of the old West. These early jewelry items were created and worn by the wealthiest and most powerful Native American leaders and constituted a kind of currency between tribes.

Turquoise has a long history of being used in jewelry since prehistoric times. Found in ancient Egyptian items, pieces from Asia and the Middle East, turquoise has been associated with healing and power. This spiritual association has made it highly prized and collected world wide.

In the American West, turquoise jewelry was initially inlaid in shell or strung in necklaces to be worn and traded among the Native American tribes. With the introduction of silver, turquoise was cut and placed in beautiful hand pounded silver bracelets, necklaces, buckles, belts and other items and old Indian jewelry became available to a wider market. As trading posts were set up on the reservations, these early pieces became treasured by collectors. Beautiful antique Indian jewelry can be seen in photographs of some of the most famous early pioneers and early American artists as they moved into the West.

Handcrafted Native American jewelry is known for its unique beauty. Each piece has its own individual feel and, when worn, conveys a power that can only be truly understood by its wearer. Antique Indian jewelry has a value that goes beyond its silver and turquoise content. The history of each piece and its rarity makes it highly prized by collectors worldwide. These ageless items of turquoise jewelry are often passed down in families as heirlooms because of their timeless charm and beauty.

Turquoise Direct is an online store dealing in American turquoise and fine Native American jewelry for nearly 40 years. The company offers hand crafted silver and gold turquoise jewelry and estate or antique Native American jewelry at the best prices. Turquoise Direct represents estates with the finest old pawn and antique Indian jewelry. The company also deals directly with the best Nevada and Arizona miners and the most highly respected contemporary Native American artists.

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