I realized that in my videos I often use terms that not everyone is familiar with so here is a short glossary:
BANGLE = this is an early style bracelet often made from silver wire and decorated
BEADS = hand or machine made round shaped silver ovals or discs in necklaces
BEZEL = a wall of silver used to hold a stone in place, can be flat or serrated
CABOCHON = a term for a turquoise stone, flat on the bottom and rounded on top
DIE = a tool for raising or lowering the design elements on a piece of silver
FILE WORK = the use of a hand file to create a design element on silver
FIRST PHASE PERIOD = circa 1868 to 1900
GERMAN SILVER = an alloy of Nickel and Copper, sometimes called white brass
HAND CUT STONES = stones ground by hand against a hard course surface
HOUSING = native name for bezel
INGOT = a piece of silver formed by casting, often in the form of a small bar
NAJA = Navajo word for the crescent pendant at the end of the necklace
NAVAJO = Indigenous tribe living in Arizona and New Mexico, four corners area
REPOUSSE = raising the surface of metal by hammering from behind creating a bump
SANDCAST = casting silver in stone molds, also known as tufa casting
SQUASH BLOSSOM = the design element on the side of a necklace resembling a petal
STAMP = a tool for creating a pattern on metal or leather by striking it with a hammer
STERLING SILVER = an alloy of .925 silver and .075 copper
TERMINALS = the end or bottom of the bracelet
VINTAGE JEWELRY = something classic, 50 years old, and well worn from use
ZUNI = Indigenous descendants of the Ancient Puebloans, from New Mexico
Please let me know if this is useful to you and if you’d like to know more! Don…
Ricki in Seattle wants to know, “How did the Native Americans make the beads?” This is my favorite and most asked question regarding Native Arts! Native Americans did not make glass beads. Glass beads have been around for centuries and were made primarily in Europe. Around the 16th century the center of glass blowing and bead making moved to Venice, Italy; a city closer to shipping and trade routes of the time. To protect the city of Venice from fire, the island of Murano, just offshore became the center of glassmaking. More than 100,000 types of beads were made on Murano for trade to the America’s, Africa, and Asia as well as Europe. By the time European traders, such as the Hudson Bay and American Trading Companies began to explore the United States, (in the early 1800’s), their horses were loaded with ”pony beads” a larger type of glass beads in limited color choices. These new material choices were extremely attractive to the Native artists who had previously been limited to bird quills, porcupine quills and earth pigments for their materials. Trading for highly desirable buffalo hides and beaver pelts gave the Indigenous artist new tools to create amazing works of art!….. To learn more, check out my three part video series “Artists of the Plains” in the video section of the website!
It’s very easy! My gallery is by appointment only and located just two blocks from the Historic Plaza area in downtown Santa Fe. Simply give me a call or send me an email and we will set up a time for us to meet in my gallery space. The advantage of “by appointment” is that we have the luxury and time to spend one on one time together discussing each piece in depth. Whether you are a beadwork, textile, pottery or jewelry aficionado you will enjoy seeing all of the material without the pressure of others around us in a relaxed setting! So let me know when your coming…don@chipetatrading.com or 303-807-1567. See you soon!
