The Navajo people have been making jewelry for many years. Before the Navajo people were introduced to incorporating silver into their jewelry; their wares consisted mainly of beads, shells and animal parts. Atsidi Sani is known as the "father" or "first" Navajo silversmith. Taught by a Mexican silversmith they called Nakai Tsosi, Sani actually began his craft by blacksmithing and working with iron. Most of his silversmithing was done between 1860 and 1890, where he mastered the craft using silver coins and turquoise beads and stones. He eventually became a teacher and set the stage for what would become a love and interest that lasts today.
Atsidi Sani passed away at the age of 90 in 1918 and left a trail for Navajo silversmiths to come. With the coming of the railroad to the west, the demand for Navajo jewelry was off and running. From the early 1900's to the early 1960's Navajo jewelry and crafts were a major part of the economy to the Navajo people. Navajo jewelry became a monetary system to the Navajo people. Jewelry was traded, sold and bought by just about anyone who passed through the Southwest.
During the 1960's and 1970's it was truly the hay day years for Navajo jewelry. With the coming of the highway system and the explosion of the American Southwest there were stands, stores, and trading posts everywhere. Fortunately, the art had been passed down to generations and it provided the Navajo people with a great industry. If you drove through Route 66 in the 1960's and 1970's you can remember the experience. Turquoise and Navajo jewelry were a huge fashion in these years and many movie stars and celebrities like Cher, Jim Morrison, Elvis were huge admirers of Navajo jewelry. Navajo jewelry was still being made the traditional way and form and was a huge success.
Beginning in the early 1980's, Navajo jewelry took on a whole new reform with style and craftsmanship. Silversmiths began working in shops in Gallup and Albuquerque and were supplying gift shops and stores all over the country. The styles became much more modern and intricate. At this time there were several trade schools teaching silversmithing and the artist took things to a whole new level. These were the formative years of artist recognition and it gained the attention of mainstream global.
With the coming of the internet in the mid 1990's, it gave the world access to a special craft and provided opportunity for Navajo silversmiths to expand, market, and share their wares.
Navajo Jewelry today is still a practiced craft, and is highly collectible and sought after. While there are not many shops still running as in the 70's and 80's the Navajo silversmith is still producing beautiful jewelry and more often than not works from home. They have become their own marketer and ultimately decide how they want their wares shared and sold. There have been more than 25,000 Navajo silversmiths over the past 40 years and fortunately in the early 1970's the silversmiths began to hallmark their wares. It is not always easy to identify a hallmark and can take some research. Here at Alltribes we are fortunate to have some of the best Navajo silversmiths in house and work with hundreds more, we are very proud and admire their craft and dedication.