Native American Wedding Bands
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In the past, Native American products such as
Native American wedding bands were all hand made by specialized craftsmen that had
learned the trade as a family business. For example, Native American clothing was made by
tailors, shoes by a cobbler, and pots made by a potter. These trades were handed down generation
to generation. With most Native American wedding bands, you will find that this traditional
process has stayed the same.
Most Native American wedding bands incorporates onyx, malachite, and most importantly:
turquoise. Turquoise or dootlizhii (meaning blue or green), symbolized
prosperity and wealth and was often through to protect the wearer. Pale
blue turquoise will turn dark green over time, but turquoise that starts
out green will usually remain the same color. Popular patterns and themes
vary from tribe to tribe and may include tribal rug patterns or animals
that are indigenous to the region.
How can I be sure my Native American wedding bands are authentic?
The Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990
prohibits any seller to falsely advertise that their products are authentic Native American
merchandise. Anyone who falsely suggests that their merchandise is Native American is subject
to pay hefty fines and even jail time. You can verify that a retailer is authentic by contacting
the Arts and Crafts Act link above.
Southwestern Native American Wedding Bands:
- Navajo - Navajo craftsmen often use a stampwork technique. This technique requires great
skill, otherwise the impression may be too deep. Navajo silversmiths use a lot of turquoise
and silver in their work and incorporate tribal rug designs.
- Hopi - Hopi are known for the overlay technique through cutting a design in a sheet of silver
and soldering it to another sheet. This process can be very time consuming and involves
carefully sawing out the design, then oxidizing the background back.
- Zuni - A popular method of the Zuni is to create many grooves into the wedding band which are
then filled with tiny stones such as turquoise.
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