Book Description
This beautiful book examines the first century of Navajo and Pueblo metal jewelry-making in the American Southwest. Beginning in the late 1860s, the region's native peoples learned metalworking and became accomplished silversmiths. Their work was united with a long-standing native traditon of beads and ornaments made from turquoise and other natural materials. The cross-cultural appeal of this jewelry continued into the mid-1900s, despite competition from tourist jewelry and mass-produced imitations. By the 1950s and 1960s, masters such as innovators Kenneth Begay and Charles Loloma created a legacy of fine art jewelry that is prized today. This development is discussed in the context of social changes and adaptations over the century. A values reference guide is also provided.
Customer Reviews:
SURPRISED WITH NUMBER OF PAGES.......2005-10-26
My brother-in-law has the exact same title book,his book has over 600 pages! I ordered the book thinking that I would get a similar copy at a great price. I did not realize that I was purchasing an condensed version. The information in the book, although somewhat sparse is good. Thank you.
North American Indian Jewelry and Adornment.......2005-10-04
A few years back I signed up for a class in silversmithing which soon became addictive. In addition to that interest, I have always been interested in primitive art such as that of the American Indians, the cave drawings, Australian Aboriginal art or spiritual drawings. These forms of spirituality and art or of art are very powerful. I have chosen to concentrate my silversmithing designs toward the designs I see from these primitive peoples. The book, North American Indian Jewelry and Adornment has proven to be very helpful toward that aim. In addition to that, it's just plain good reading.
One quibble/caution.......2004-05-24
This gorgeous book is indeed indispensable, especially if "read" visually. Unfortunately, quite a few of the tribal attributions for historic objects (information given to the author by museums) are wrong. Given the scope of this project, Dubin had little choice but to take often out-dated info at face value rather than do her own research. However, readers should keep this caveat in mind when using this work as a reference.
A must-have!.......2004-05-16
This book is a must-have for anyone serious about studying Native American cultures. It is a fun read, while still being absolutely crammed with information. It's clear the author put in a lot of time and work to master her subject. Not to mention, the artwork featured in the book is beautiful. I love to breeze through it when I've had a hard day, just to feel my spirits lift looking at such amazing works of art. You will learn so much and enjoy the journey enormously.
superb, magnificent.......2003-07-02
this book could easily inspire a life of crime--how else to afford the gorgeous contemporary jewelry? or acquire the museum quality antique and archeological collections?
as a knitter, embroiderer and beader, i am always looking for inspiration for my pieces. i may stoop to outright plagarism when it comes to the works in this incredible book. though i will say that i can only dream of having the level of skill the pieces display. the craftmanship, the artistry, are humbling when one considers the tools the artists had--and the reservation conditions under which too much of the art was created.
the text is wonderfully informative, if you can force yourself to read it, instead of allowing yourself to be mesmerized by the photos.
follow the advice of the professional review--buy this book immediately.
Book Description
The book presents the jewelry colection through its founding collector Millicent Rogers, bringing to life the Taos she discovered in the late 1940s and showcasing the authentic, classic-era jewerly that she collected when Fred Harvey and others were popularizing Indian-made tourist pieces.
This lavishly illustrated book serves as a solid overview of southwest Indian jewelry from prehistory to present.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Reference Book on Southwest Indian Jewelry.......2007-05-31
If you like Indian Jewelry but can't get to the museum in Taos this is a great first book on the subject. If you do go to the Millicent Rodgers Museum, this is the book to help you savor that grand experience for many years to come. And it's a great reference work if you are contemplating investing in Zuni or Navajo jewelry.
Wilford's Trading Post
Gallup, New Mexico
must-have book for Southwest Indian Jewelry coll;ectors.......2007-03-14
This is a glorious book of Southwest Indian Jewelry with interesting info on Millicent Rogers, who herself was a work of art.
A must-have for collectors of Southwest Indian Jewelry.
GOOD SERVICE.......2007-02-07
I HAVE ORDERED SEVERAL BOOKS FROM AMAZON AND THEY ARE EXPEDIENT AND HAVE A GOOD BOOKS AT A GREAT PRICE. AVAILABILITY GREAT. I WILL CONTINUE TO DO BUSINESS WITH AMAZON AND THEIR SERVICE. THANK YOU, BECKY DYER
A recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library Native American Studies reference collections.......2006-08-07
Painstakingly compiled and with an expert, knowledgeable commentary by Shelby J. Tisdale, Fine Indian Jewelry Of The Southwest: The Millicent Rogers Museum Collection offers an impressively informative history and survey of the southwestern Native American jewelry that is represented in the collection of the Millicent Rogers Museum as the result of art patron and passionate collector Millicent Rogers who assembled a spectacular collection of Navajo and Zuni silver and turquoise, Hopi silverwork, and Pueblo stone and shell jewelry during the late 1940s and early 1950s. Of special interest is the chapter devoted to "The Origins of Indian Jewelry in the Southwest". Profusely illustrated and a very strongly recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library Native American Studies reference collections, Fine Indian Jewelry Of The Southwest is enhanced for scholars and non-specialist general readers alike with the inclusion of a glossary, references, and an index.
Customer Reviews:
A Favorite......................2007-01-14
I wanted this book for some time. I must say, I love it and don't know why I did not buy it sooner. An all time favorite of mine for sure.
very good information. and good for research........2001-10-20
Hi I bouhgt Southwestern Indian Jewelry and it arrived with no plastic wrap and the jacket was damaged. Please let me know how to go about exchanging it for another in perfect condition. I am a collector and condition is important. Thank You, Joe Garcia.
The one book on American Indian jewelery you must own........1999-08-16
As a collector of Indian art, jewelery, pottery and rugs, I had the wonderful good fortune to know and consider the Hopi Master jeweler Charles Loloma my friend.
Finding a book on American Indian jewelery was almost impossible to come by until this great book by Dexter came out in 1992. The artists, their work in magnificent color will move anyone to want to own some of this jewelry.
From it's beginings late in the 19th century jewelery was the Indian method of carrying their wealth around in the form of necklaces, braclets etc, Indian jewery was mainly of two schools. Most prominent was the Navajo and the other Zuni.
Then in the mid 1960's came a Hopi indian Charles Loloma. He was the Picasso that was going to revolutionize American Indian jewelery and he did. This book is a testament to Charlie's followers who now produce jewlery that is both modern and magnificant. Buy the book then go out to an Indian Art shop anywhere in CA, AZ, NM or even NJ and you will not be able to resist owning someting.
Book Description
This fascinating volume contains over 500 colour photographs, many from previously undocumented collections. It is full of fascinating historical detail, including the legend of the Koh-i-Noor diamond, now the centrepiece of the State Crown of Queen Elizabeth II. The book explains the skill and techniques of the Indian craftsmen and reveals
Book Description
Inexpensive do-it-yourself book provides 72 charts for bead weaving, 12 full-size patterns for bead appliqué. All based on authentic designs of Cheyenne, Sioux, Crow, other tribes. Weave belts, headbands, sashes, etc. Decorate handbags, vests, blouses, more. Complete instructions, color keys for every chart and pattern.
Customer Reviews:
beadwork patterns.......2000-01-16
This book has excellant patterns but no colored pics, makes it hard to visualize what you are creating, or like in most cases would like to change. The amount and quality of patterns is wonderful though and out weights the lack of pictures.
Book Description
The jewelry of Jesse Monongya is fully described and each piece tells a story that combinnes authentic concepts from his culture with cutting edge materials and techniques.
Customer Reviews:
A superb book.......2005-09-15
Jesse Monongya: Opal Bears and Lapis Skies (American Indian Master Jewelers) is a superb book, not just in the quantity and quality of its photographs of this important master jeweler's work, but in its insights into his life and the precision and beauty of his craft. We learn how Jesse's work is inspired by Navajo mythology, tradition and culture; how he has studied the work of many master craftsmen and women that came before him; how he has taken these traditions, the symbols, techniques and materials, placed them in a contemporary context and found his own voice. We learn about techniques of jewelry making, past and present, and with the clarity and directness of Lois Sherr Dubin's elegant prose, are encouraged to see beyond the dazzling surface of these highly crafted pieces to the spiritual world that lies beneath. Whether pendants, belt buckles, earrings or bolo ties, Monongya's work is of exceptional technical quality and imagination - these pieces are works of art in their own right. His use of new materials is highly dramatic, his combinations of colour and design unique, and his journey to where he is now, as a man, a jeweler and a Navajo, is a fascinating one. And it's this invaluable historical and cultural context that gives us such an intriguing glimpse into Jesse Monongya's world, and the wider world of Native Americans from which he comes.
A singularly impressive artbook.......2003-10-08
Jesse Monongya: Opal Bears And Lapis Skies by Lois Sherr Dubin (Commissioner of the Indian Arts & Crafts Board, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, DC) offers 175 full-color plates of vibrant earrings, pendants, bracelets and more, as it showcases the vivid and memorably impressive quality of Jesse Monongya's jewelry making drawn from and inspired by Hopi and Navajo tradition and heritage. The informed and informative text thoughtfully describes the feeling, tradition, quality, and respect wrought within each work by this Native American artist and craftsman. A singularly impressive artbook, Jesse Monongya is a welcome contribution to Native American Art Studies and highly recommended for jewelry making enthusiasts and students.
A Visual Treat.......2003-03-02
I am a bit of a novice who has recently become interested in contemporary Native American jewelry and received this book as a gift. What I can say is that Opal Bears and Lapis Skies was an incredible treat to receive and I have found myself frequently going back to it to learn more about this artist. His volume of work is quite impressive and beautifully displayed in this book.
What I think works most effectively with this book is that for someone like myself, who is still familiarizing myself with this craft, I found it instantly appealing and understandible. One particularly notable quality of this book is how it works on several different levels of familiarity with this type of jewelry. Friends of mine with little knowledge of this craft have picked it up merely to page through it and have been able to quickly develop an appeciation for the struggles Jesse has gone through (many that we're all familiar with) and how he has been able to transform these motivations into an amazing talent. I found the information on his background particularly interesting and valuable, helping me place his pieces in a greater context.
I can imagine that this book is even more valuable to anyone who appreciates this type of jewelry and the talent and skill behind the pieces featured. I find myself learning something new each time I look through this book--the pieces shown are beautiful and many are truly amazing. The photographs are amazingly rich and sharp and are themselves a visual treat, with the quality as good as well as anything I've seen in print.
Immersion into the world of an inspired artist.......2003-02-06
Open this wonderful book, look at the magnificent jewelry and craftsman ship, stunningly photographed, and placed in the geographic and cultural context from which it arose. Mr. Monongya's creations are truly organic, arising deep from within his cultural roots, which tap the brilliant and subtle landscape of the West. Ms Dubin's writing, concise and direct in its prose, reveals the Mr. Monongya's history and evolution as an artist. Everything works in this book - the subject, the photographs, the text, the typography. This book follows in the brilliant tradition of Ms. Sherr's two earlier classics.
Jay E. Selman...
Portrait of a Master.......2003-02-06
Jesse Monongya is a powerhouse in contemporary American Indian culture, greatly admired by many who should like this winsome book. Selling expensive art takes skills beyond those used at the jeweler's workbench. Prominence in the politically charged museum and gallery world takes other talents that few perfect. Being a member of a minority culture adds further odds. Monongya has mastered the field.
Little of this comes through in Dubin's portrait of her friend. She makes him a bland cliché, stressing the requisite (for Indian stories) spiritual grandmother, and the recovery from drunkenness (also required, if to be up-to-date). Add some personal charm and an ostensibly adoring family for good measure. Her subject is short changed. Her readers are denied an understanding of the complexities of Indian culture today as exemplified by an extraordinary figure. This book will appeal to those who want a pretty story to match the pretty pictures. Monongya is worth more than that.
Also not explained is how the artist's exquisite handling of his images distinguishes his expensive jewelry from that made by other Indian artists using the same images who sell their work in galleries or even at roadside tables for a fraction of Monongya's prices. Creative innovation or smart marketing? On the other hand, if the value of the work is perceived by looking at it, why not just show the pictures (excellent, though not accurate in color) and skip the gooey writing?
As the first publication in a proposed series about individual Indian jewelers, this book gives foreboding of what's to come: mawkish biographical sketches suitable for the coffee table? One could wish for something worth keeping in the library; something that reads less like advertising copy. However, congratulations to Dubin for her success in promoting her friend's work. People evidently like reading her stories.
Robert Kasal, professor of art emeritus,
Portland State University
Book Description
Yazzie Johnson (Navajo) and Gail Bird (Santo Domingo / Laguna) have been creative collaborators in jewelry-making since 1972 and are considered in the first rank of Native American artists. Shared Images is a retrospective of their career, spanning the early 1970s to the present.
Book Description
All of the beautiful American Indian jewelry shown in this book was actually for sale when the photographs were taken with the prices and ranges noted with each caption. Therefore, it will be useful to all enthusiasts of Indian arts, because it shows hundreds of pieces that are really available on today's marketplace. The 336 beautiful color photographs demonstrate the excellent craftsmanship in the jewelry and the text presents the variations of style to be exciting. Collectors, dealers, historians and travelers to the Southwest all will enjoy the concise and informative text and visual pleasure this book presents.
Books:
- Textile Art of the Bakuba: Velvet Embroideries in Raffia (Schiffer Book for Designers and Collectors)
- Textiles (9th Edition)
- The Art of Exterior Painting: A Step-By-Step Guide to Choosing Colors and Painting Your Home
- The Body in the Bookcase: A Faith Fairchild Mystery
- The Colorful Apocalypse: Journeys in Outsider Art
- The Complete Book of Candles: Creative Candle-Making, Candleholders and Decorative Displays
- The Complete Book of Sewing New Edition
- The Complete Book of the Marine Aquarium
- The Complete Book of Woodworking: Detailed Plans for More Than 40 Fabulous Projects
- The COMPLETE GUIDE TO FURNITURE STYLES (ENLARGED EDITION)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Branded Nation: The Marketing of Megachurch, College Inc., and Museumworld
- The Beach House
- Japanese Screen: Edo Period Screen With Trees And Flowering Plants, 18th Century
- Lullabies: An Illustrated Songbook
- Smart Soapmaking: The Simple Guide to Making Traditional Handmade Soap Quickly, Safely, and Reliably
- The Known World
- The Dreaming Tree
- Integrated Auditing of ERP Systems
- In-Line Skate Shop: Practice Set for College Accounting
- Burroughs Live: The Collected Interview of Wiliam S. Burroughs, 1960-1997
General
| Antiques & Collectibles
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Indian Silver Jewelry of the Southwest, 1868-1930
Hallmarks of the Southwest (Schiffer Book for Collectors)
Turquoise Unearthed: An Illustrated Guide (Rocks, Minerals and Gemstones)
Southwestern Indian Jewelry
A Guide to Indian Jewelry of the Southwest
