The tribal nations of the Cherokee, Navajo, Hopi, Apache, Seminole, Pueblo, Mohawk and others were the earliest people to inhabit what has become the United States. They were all independent in their governing, spiritual practices, history, cultural traditions and artistic crafting style. Authentic products may be bought in Native American gift shops all over the country and online.
Some stores primarily cater to tourism and will feature mainly novelty products and items that are based on some of the more iconic, and generalized, images of tribal life. Examples of such goods are traditionally costumed dolls, headdresses, drums, tomahawks, bead work, dream catchers, post cards, paintings and key rings. For the most part, this type of inventory is manufactured in factories and ordered in bulk instead of being authentically hand crafted.
Often located near the reservations or other areas with high tribal concentrations, stores that feature merchandise of authentic origin are quite popular. Their inventory contains items that are individually crafted by the hands of actual tribal artisans who practice the traditional ways. With pride in the quality and personal attention to detail, each product is a unique treasure.
To craft as the ancestors did hundreds of years in the past, and to retain authentic quality, all materials should be natural. Some of the items used in construction are feathers, fur, leather, wool, quills, gems, stones, silver and clay that actually comes from the ground. Pieces are hand made featuring earth tones, geometric shapes and focusing on spiritualism, parts of nature, animals, stars, the moon and the sun quite often.
Basketry is a huge draw to many people who enjoy traditional style crafts made with great skill and quality. The techniques and materials vary by region depending on what was plentiful in the individual areas. In the northern zone that is now Alaska, the primary choice was baleen from whales, yucca leaves and grass in the southwest, and thin strips of wood in the northeast are fashioned into all manner of baskets, jars and trays.
Pottery is one of the oldest art forms known to man and the styles of the Pueblos, Hopi, Navajo, Cherokee and Catawba are each very distinctive. To be authentically traditional, craftsmen use natural clay and create the structures by hand without the use of potter's wheels. Colors are all derived from organic sources like minerals and plants, and stones or pine pitch are used to achieve a lustrous or shiny finish.
A specialty product of various Pueblo tribes like the Zuni, Navajo and the Hopi in particular, kachina dolls have fascinated many collectors and are a popular commodity. The totems are sculpted in dancing poses and designed to represent the sun, animals and men in their spirit forms. Making couples fertile, increasing someones health, promoting well being and making the rain fall are only a few of the supernatural abilities these figurines are said to possess.
Each group has their own distinct style of creating beautiful designs through the art of beading. Seed beads are used to embellish so many different things including clothing, shoes, fabrics, basket handles, pipes, drums, and to make stunning jewelry. There are so many other amazing products that one may enjoy when shopping for authentic tribal crafts.
Some stores primarily cater to tourism and will feature mainly novelty products and items that are based on some of the more iconic, and generalized, images of tribal life. Examples of such goods are traditionally costumed dolls, headdresses, drums, tomahawks, bead work, dream catchers, post cards, paintings and key rings. For the most part, this type of inventory is manufactured in factories and ordered in bulk instead of being authentically hand crafted.
Often located near the reservations or other areas with high tribal concentrations, stores that feature merchandise of authentic origin are quite popular. Their inventory contains items that are individually crafted by the hands of actual tribal artisans who practice the traditional ways. With pride in the quality and personal attention to detail, each product is a unique treasure.
To craft as the ancestors did hundreds of years in the past, and to retain authentic quality, all materials should be natural. Some of the items used in construction are feathers, fur, leather, wool, quills, gems, stones, silver and clay that actually comes from the ground. Pieces are hand made featuring earth tones, geometric shapes and focusing on spiritualism, parts of nature, animals, stars, the moon and the sun quite often.
Basketry is a huge draw to many people who enjoy traditional style crafts made with great skill and quality. The techniques and materials vary by region depending on what was plentiful in the individual areas. In the northern zone that is now Alaska, the primary choice was baleen from whales, yucca leaves and grass in the southwest, and thin strips of wood in the northeast are fashioned into all manner of baskets, jars and trays.
Pottery is one of the oldest art forms known to man and the styles of the Pueblos, Hopi, Navajo, Cherokee and Catawba are each very distinctive. To be authentically traditional, craftsmen use natural clay and create the structures by hand without the use of potter's wheels. Colors are all derived from organic sources like minerals and plants, and stones or pine pitch are used to achieve a lustrous or shiny finish.
A specialty product of various Pueblo tribes like the Zuni, Navajo and the Hopi in particular, kachina dolls have fascinated many collectors and are a popular commodity. The totems are sculpted in dancing poses and designed to represent the sun, animals and men in their spirit forms. Making couples fertile, increasing someones health, promoting well being and making the rain fall are only a few of the supernatural abilities these figurines are said to possess.
Each group has their own distinct style of creating beautiful designs through the art of beading. Seed beads are used to embellish so many different things including clothing, shoes, fabrics, basket handles, pipes, drums, and to make stunning jewelry. There are so many other amazing products that one may enjoy when shopping for authentic tribal crafts.
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