RARE TOWERING VINTAGE NATIVE AMERICAN NAVAJO PETRIFIED WOOD STERLING SILVER BRACELET This is a breathtaking vintage Navajo single stone silver bracelet. This piece contains a remarkable large dome shaped petrified wood stone. Surrounding the stone are impeccable silver works that consist of silver  ropes, and swirling stems. This bracelet consists of a wonderful triangular shaped cuadruple silver shank cuff. The center stone measures around 1"¼ x 1-1/8". The width of the bracelet measures around 1"¾ Sterling silver. Cir. Mid century . The inside end to end measures around 5"¼ with an additional 1-1/2" gap. Sturdy 49.2 grams. No marks but tested as sterling silver great addition to your collection ❤️ Much of what is recognized as Native American jewelry today, comes from the Arizona and New Mexico regions. Now traditionally, Native American jewelry was used to display their history, ranks, and individuality. However, they soon travelled from Mexico and the Pacific region into the Southwest via the ancient trade route that existed at the time.

When money was hard to come by during the World War II, Native Americans used petrified wood to make and sell jewelry. Turquoise was scarcely found on the reservation, so they used whatever was available to hammer the wood they collected. Silversmiths used to hone down their stones on buckskin. Electricity was unavailable, so polishing became almost impossible, so they used facial oils and pants to achieve their final finish.

A new dawn

The Native American jewelry is synonymous with the beliefs of the indigenous people. Tourism and trade increased their market presence, especially at the turn of the 20th century. In fact, the Zuni is the largest of New Mexico’s pueblos with almost 80 percent of households earning their livelihood through the production of jewelry. This includes a massive use of silver, turquoise, corals, and even precious gems.

The Native Indian jewelry is an art that is celebrated to this day and will continue to be in the generations to come. However, the Native American artisans of today aren’t creating the same kind of jewelry as their ancestors. They’ve turned into contemporary artists with the influence of technology and modern trends, which they merge with their traditional designs to honor their past.