Native American Silversmiths and the Arts

Some of the most remarkable Native American silversmiths and creative artistry comes from the federal schools that were established by the federal government to help Native Americans develop and use their special talents. The great thing about them is their exclusivity; only Native Americans are allowed to study in most of them and they are a place of incubation for the wonderful craft of silversmithing and other unique arts that preserve the ‘old school’ and the ‘new’ for its beautiful heritage.

These arts and crafts are unique and very few people know about them; perhaps that’s a good thing otherwise, Native American silversmiths wouldn’t be able to have the freedom to produce such beauty without the threat of having to compete with other cultures. After all, their craft should be preserved as an American multiculturalism that no other country shares.
Their concentration of craft and design is traditional, and this is a case in which ‘old school’ is best preserved

Native American Silversmiths and Incubation

It takes years of work and experience to succeed and flourish in such an environment, one is reminded of the guild smiths of old, protected as well by sponsors and members of the community who could afford to support the arts.

Native American Silversmiths and Their Infused Meaning

Their symbols are derived from natural elements and designs such as leaves and other symbols that have abstract meaning. Some say they even have ‘mystical’ and transcendental meaning.

There seems to be a long history that conveys the meaning behind these symbols, some say they have traveled all the way from Central America. There is a strong possibility that along with the trade of goods came ideas as well. Certainly many of these symbols must have been changed from one element to another, such as basket weave to pottery, pottery to silversmithing.

Native American Silversmiths Evidence of Trade and Travel

Native American silversmiths used shell designs as well, showing that if the craftsman himself hadn’t travel from place to place, at least they must have known people perhaps from other tribes and locations. Even the early smiths had a beautiful aesthetic for metals and stones, because their appreciation was most evident in the respect and treatment of their medium and craft.

Native American silversmiths approached their smithing much as they did their pottery, sand painting and other artwork, infusing it with the spiritual and mystical qualities that they believed nature embodied. Many of the early American leaders in the construction of the nation would reluctantly include thought that was derived from various Native American cultures, but today this is still something that is still reluctantly admitted.