Navajo Pattern Tri-Fold Wallet
Tradition and Trade: 5 Most Popular Forms Of Navajo Art And Craft
For more than five hundred, the lifestyle and culture of the Navajo people have both intrigued and fascinated those living around them, prompting admiration for their unique art and craft traditions. Navajo designs, patterns, materials, and textures continue to inspire designers around the world, but nobody can truly replicate their beauty more than the indigenous artists. Navajo art grew in a rapidly changing, often hostile world - a world where they were fighting for their rights, fighting subjugation, conforming to a new society, while also trying to make the most of an expanding market. Their and crafts are a canvas for those stories and struggles. Even Navajo art bags that we see today hark back to those stories. Let us have a look at some of the most popular kinds of Navajo arts and crafts.
1. Sand-painting
Sand-painting is one of the most sacred forms of Navajo art. They are primarily used in ceremonial practices and not for self-expression. Traditionally, they are destroyed once the ceremony is over. Even though you can buy these sand-paintings today, you will rarely come across authentic versions that were used in the ceremonies.
2. Basket weaving
The Navajo people inherited the tradition of basket weaving from their Anasazi ancestors. Called ts’aa’ in Navajo, the baskets are mostly ceremonial, with each holding a special symbolic and sacred meaning, but they also had utilitarian purposes. The baskets feature patterns in red, white and black that depicts harmony and balance in nature.
3. Silversmiths and Turquoise Jewelry making
Inherited from the Mexicans, silversmithing among the Navajo people was a marked departure from their usual metalwork that was mostly utilitarian. The first Navajo person to become a silversmith was Atsidi Sani, who started by creating silver buttons called conchos, using melted silver coins they received from traders. Along with silver, their traditional turquoise jewelry also began to gain popularity as a commercial product.
4. Pottery
It is to the 1500s that the earliest forms of Navajo pottery can be traced back. Unlike other forms of art and craft, Navajo pottery was not considered special or very significant. They were made through a distinctive process that lent them a unique look and aroma, and also made them waterproof.
5. Blankets and Rugs
Originally, Navajo rugs and blankets were made for their functional uses, but by the end of the 19th century, artists began creating them for trade and tourism. Today, rugs and blankets are a major source of livelihood in the Navajo community. Made of wool and featuring geometric patterns and designs, they are not only warm and high-quality but also water-resistant.
Present-day Navajo artists continue to carry on the legacy of their ancestors by creating authentic artworks that are a blend of history and modernity. For instance, now you can buy Navajo design trifold wallets that feature beautiful prints and patterns. It is important to buy such products because it is a way of lending support and encouragement to indigenous artisans.
Author’s bio: The Author is a blogger. This article is about the most popular kinds of Navajo art forms.
1. Sand-painting
Sand-painting is one of the most sacred forms of Navajo art. They are primarily used in ceremonial practices and not for self-expression. Traditionally, they are destroyed once the ceremony is over. Even though you can buy these sand-paintings today, you will rarely come across authentic versions that were used in the ceremonies.
2. Basket weaving
The Navajo people inherited the tradition of basket weaving from their Anasazi ancestors. Called ts’aa’ in Navajo, the baskets are mostly ceremonial, with each holding a special symbolic and sacred meaning, but they also had utilitarian purposes. The baskets feature patterns in red, white and black that depicts harmony and balance in nature.
3. Silversmiths and Turquoise Jewelry making
Inherited from the Mexicans, silversmithing among the Navajo people was a marked departure from their usual metalwork that was mostly utilitarian. The first Navajo person to become a silversmith was Atsidi Sani, who started by creating silver buttons called conchos, using melted silver coins they received from traders. Along with silver, their traditional turquoise jewelry also began to gain popularity as a commercial product.
4. Pottery
It is to the 1500s that the earliest forms of Navajo pottery can be traced back. Unlike other forms of art and craft, Navajo pottery was not considered special or very significant. They were made through a distinctive process that lent them a unique look and aroma, and also made them waterproof.
5. Blankets and Rugs
Originally, Navajo rugs and blankets were made for their functional uses, but by the end of the 19th century, artists began creating them for trade and tourism. Today, rugs and blankets are a major source of livelihood in the Navajo community. Made of wool and featuring geometric patterns and designs, they are not only warm and high-quality but also water-resistant.
Present-day Navajo artists continue to carry on the legacy of their ancestors by creating authentic artworks that are a blend of history and modernity. For instance, now you can buy Navajo design trifold wallets that feature beautiful prints and patterns. It is important to buy such products because it is a way of lending support and encouragement to indigenous artisans.
Author’s bio: The Author is a blogger. This article is about the most popular kinds of Navajo art forms.
