What is the history of tribal jewelry?

The origin of tribal jewelry lies in the Native American tribes, harking back many a millennia. The various tribes had different modes and materials, but all of them believed in the spiritual significance of jewelry. Hence the tribal jewelry worn by Native Americans came to be symbols of the religious beliefs and communal practices of each tribe, some even holding medicinal properties. Apparently, the most commonly worn pieces of tribal jewelry by Native Americans were earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and arm bands. The material used to create tribal jewelry was chosen in accordance with its mystical, medicinal or spiritual properties. Many of the materials used to make jewelry were natural substances like shells, cornhusks, sticks, and claws. Many of the beads were also often created using natural substances like berries, rose hips, and grass seeds. Yet in the following years, they also used materials that were not found in nature, such as crystals, and beads made of glass and metal. Hunting tribes in the north wore different parts of animals, like fur, claws, and hooves in order to help increase their power and shield themselves from spirits of the animals they'd hunted. Necklaces made of bear claws were worn with great pride, as they stood to symbolize the successful hunt of a large bear. Such necklaces were highly valued by the western tribes of the Plains and the Great Basin. The design of tribal jewelry was no less important than the materials used to create them. In what is now known as Alaska, the male Eskimos often had their lips pierced and decorated with tiny walrus tusks which symbolized the significance of walruses to their existence. Among tribes in the west, earrings were thought to increase longevity and make entrance into the world of spirits possible in the afterlife. Many Apraho warriors made necklaces inspired by their dreams. Turquoise was also especially significant in the south, used by Native Americans in tribal jewelry as well as religious services.

• 1
• 1

It's true that tribal jewelry was mainly created with spirituality in mind. However, there were some pieces of jewelry that were made to reflect one's position in society. For instance, only children of the highest social status were permitted to be adorned in pearl jewelry of any kind. Iroquois Indian women usually wore necklaces made of many beads. However, for special events they boasted the magnificence of their jewelry, wearing as much jewelry as possible.

• 1
• 1