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March 25, 2011 on 10:47 pm
 Native American Lance A fairly long length of strong wood was used for the shaft of the Native American lance. To this length was attached a tip of copper, flint, or obsidian. The introduction of iron and steel caused these materials to be used for the tips, as they were stronger than the original materials. To provide additional strength, the shaft of the lance would be wrapped with leather. The use of the lance became more universal after the horse was introduced to the New World. This effectively made the Native American warrior a cavalry man, and the use of lances by the cavalry is known from ancient times in nearly every culture. The tradition is still carried on by Indian artisans, even though lances are no longer used for purposes of raids or warfare. Reflected in the construction of each lance, is the affinity of the Native American to nature. A tip of flint or iron is carefully attached to a length of strong, straight wood. The shaft of the lance is often wrapped with leather in order to provide more strength. Items that may be used for adorning the lance could be such things as feathers, calico, bits of fur, or important totemic pieces. We are able to imagine a group of Indian hunters, mounted upon their horses, galloping in hot pursuit of a small herd of buffalo. The distance is quickly closed between the hunters and the prey. The very long hunting lance, sixteen feet long or more is ready. At the proper moment, it is thrust into the body of the buffalo, and the needs of the tribe are met once more. The hunting lance was normally about twice as long as a lance which was used for warfare. During combat, the lance could either be used in a throwing motion or close up. It could also serve to hold the enemy at bay. The lances made by Native Americans even today, display their proud culture. The knowledge of centuries helps to guide the hands of the artist as he crafts the lance. The entire lance is constructed with tradition and quality in mind and the wood is carefully chosen. A Native American lance can serve as a centerpiece for a collection of Indian artifacts. The very size of the lance will assure that it will get the attention it deserves. There are a variety of styles of lances from which to choose, in order to provide a focal point for your living room wall. A Native American lance above the fireplace will add the perfect finishing touch to the home decorated in a western, southwest or rustic manner.
March 12, 2011 on 6:45 pm
 Rawhide Lamp Shades Sometimes rawhide lamp shades have spots on the surface. The spots you are seeing are probably the natural color of the rawhide. Each hide is different, some animals have light and dark spots and color tones which are part of the hide color. The rawhide used for lamp shades all starts out dark like our western style rawhide shades with a medium to dark brown color. Western rawhide shades are left natural and are untreated hides. The dark rawhide are bleached to turn them lighter to make southwestern style rawhide lamp shades but each hide still retains its own characteristics. The spots that remain on the the bleached rawhide are not stains as someone might think, but the natural color of the hide. If you like the rustic character of rawhide then you will love the unique colors and patterns created by natural rawhide lampshades. Don’t forget to use conditioning oil to protect your leather lamp shades.
March 11, 2011 on 6:05 pm
 Native American Jewlery Native American jewelry takes many forms, depending on the tribe and the individual artist. Making use of the materials offered by the natural world, Indians turned these simple things into objects of beauty. The tradition of jewelry styles has developed over the centuries, and often distinctive styles developed in different tribes. Some of the jewelry was considered to be currency, and was used for trade and barter between the Native American nations. When the artists of the Navajo and Hopi tribes saw Mexican silver work, they knew they had to learn how to work with metals even though the jewelry they created from natural items was very lovely. These native people often bartered their livestock for lessons, in order to become skilled in working with silver. They soon made silver work their own by taking what they had learned back to the pueblo and village. From this beginning, a distinctive and beautiful style evolved. Incorporating turquoise and other semi precious stones into the silver, Native American jewelry is simply unmistakable. Silver jewelry in earlier times was made by sand casting or by cutting and hammering. The last method involves the use of a forge to melt the silver, then pouring the molten silver into a mold made of sandstone. Native American jewelry created in this way involves a great deal of finishing work afterward. The centuries old tradition of jewelry crafting is alive and well today. Artists of great skill still create Native American jewelry in many styles. While the use of silver has become very popular, especially among the Indians of the Southwest, the Hopi and Navajo have become especially renowned. Generally of a low quality, much of what is sold as Native American jewelry is simply mass produced in factories. When looking for Indian jewelry, it is best to try to find pieces created by hand by true Indian artisans. One of the most easily recognized articles of Native American jewelry would probably be silver belts. Besides belts, necklaces, rings, bracelets, and earrings are among the many types of jewelry available. Oddly, Navajo jewelry often has no symbolic meaning, unlike many Native American art forms; it is simply created to be beautiful. The Apache stand out in terms of creativity and skill among the other tribes renowned for their jewelry. This attention to detail is still being carried on today by Native American artists from many tribes. It is best to purchase pieces that are made by actual Indian artists when considering buying Native American jewelry. Found in each item is centuries of skill and tradition. Adding just the right touch to casual dress, silver jewelry accented with semi precious stones gives a distinctive look. With the proper pieces of Native American jewelry, an even more formal attire can be embellished. |
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