The Navajo And Pueblo Silversmiths by John Adair

Author:John Adair [Adair, John]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Biography & Autobiography, Criminals & Outlaws, Rich & Famous, Social Science, Ethnic Studies, Native American Studies, History, United States, 19th Century
ISBN: 9781786256706
Google: 2M9vCwAAQBAJ
Publisher: Pickle Partners Publishing
Published: 2015-11-06T05:22:17+00:00

PLATE 13

A. Tom Burnsides drawing silver wire B. Charlie Houck, an old Navajo smith

C. Navajo homemade blowtorch D. Navajo Wearing pouch

An analysis of the stamp designs based on the impressions of the dies made by six different silversmiths and on the dies used in the shops in two of the Indian schools reveals that the form of these stamps falls into four basic types [Table v]. These types are: the crescent; the triangle (with or without a base); the circle, with lines radiating from the center; and long narrow designs with parallel edges. All four of these design types have a number of variations. The crescent varies from a shallow or deep curve a quarter of an inch in length to a shallow crescent several inches long. The triangles and circles also vary in size. Some of the crescents have smooth edges, others have saw-tooth edges with a line in the center; still others have lines cut from one edge to the other in a radiating pattern. There is a similar variety in individual stamps of the other types.

Of these basic types the crescent is by far the most common. An average of the dies belonging to these six smiths and two shops was taken. There were twenty-three dies of the crescent type, eleven of the triangular type, four of the circular type, and three of the type with the straight edges. All of these types have their origin in the Mexican leather stamps.

The silversmiths on the reservation use very few naturalistic designs. Of these the arrow and a generalized bird design, which were originally introduced by the traders, are the most popular. Certain curio dealers in the Southwest have printed folders picturing designs such as swastikas, thunderbirds, arrows, and horses, which are stamped on Navajo silver, and they have attributed definite symbolic meanings to these designs. This is sales promotion rather than fact.

Many smiths have taken up singing; there are old singers on the reservation who knew silversmithing in the past. Long Moustache, of Klagetoh, and Sam Tilden are the best known of these. Grey Moustache, of Sunrise Springs, knows some prayers and minor ceremonials, and Atsidi Sani was a singer. The smith needs a lucrative avocation, for he can do accurate work for only twenty years or a little more, then his eyes begin to grow weak and he can no longer see well enough to work silver. Eyestrain may be called the occupational disease of silversmithing. Many smiths ruin their eyes because they work in their hogans at night with only the light of kerosene or gasoline lanterns.

Tom Burnsides remarked to me: “You can’t do good silver work for very long. It all depends on how long your eyes last. After my eyes get too weak to do silver, I can do medicine work. I am going to begin to learn Apache Wind Way from my father-in-law, Whitehair, sometime soon.”{47}

For over twenty-five years the traders have encouraged the Navajo smiths to make thin, light bracelets in the form of snakes, with turquoise sets for eyes.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.