Ethnic Tribal Jewelry

Add some tribal tradition to your style

By Shannon Beineke

Tribal jewelry still appeals to people in the modern day for its roots in history and aesthetic appeal. Often handmade, it's crafted from natural materials like silver, bamboo, copper alloy, glass, bone and semi-precious gems. Black onyx and turquoise are among the many unique gemstones commonly used to add to the beauty of tribal jewelry. Of all the places where it's made, one of the first to come to mind is Africa.

African jewelry is truly a form of art. It captures the culture of tribes, freezing revered moments in time, and often includes pictures of men hunting or family. Sometime the jewelry has even deeper meaning. Coconut represents stability. Cow bone can be used to make elephant tusk imitations, beads, arrowheads and tiny shields for jewelry. These pieces all represent wealth when made from cow bone.

Elephant hair bracelets are supposed to bring good luck. Nowadays, they're usually made from plant fiber instead of actual elephant hair. Ghana glass beads also bring luck and good health, but only the cowrie shell represents prosperity as well as luck and health. It was once used as currency in Africa. Ethnic jewelry is some of the most stunning and meaningful in the world.

American Indian jewelry is also intriguing. The Zuni tribe of New Mexico is famous for its fetishes. These natural charms, which are often added to jewelry, have spiritual connections. Carving an animal's likeness supposedly frees its spirit from within the material. The more difficult a piece is to carve, the more it will be worth. In addition to what was previously mentioned, Zuni jewelry may also be made from jet and coral.

It was the Navajo who taught the Zuni tribe the craft of the silversmith. In the late 1800s, silver Navajo jewelry was a status symbol that represented wealth. Tourists began to affect the popular style soon after 1900. That's when the famed squash blossom necklace was first made. Turquoise also became popular then, and is now the primary jewelry material identified as Native American. For the Navajo, jewelry was not about tradition. It had more to do with decoration, much like in modern times.

Navajo, Zuni and other ethnic tribal jewelry items are reminders of the past. They're made so that people can wear little pieces of history. Sometimes jewelry helps people to feel connected with tribes, and other times, it's nothing more than a matter of beauty. Tribal jewelry is certainly ideal for either case.