QUICK TIPS TO FIND ORIGINAL LIZ WALLACE JEWELRY ONLINE

Although silversmithing is commonly practiced by men, there are also Navajo women who have taken an interest in it. This is not something to be shocked about because a lot of Navajo artists have always worked with metal to create beautiful jewelry pieces since 1918. One of today's prominent female Navajo artists is Liz Wallace.

Like other well-known Navajo artists, Liz Wallace is recognized for her unique styles and designs. She has received several awards and recognitions from the prestigious Southwestern Association for Indian Arts, Santa Fe Indian Market, and Heard Museum Indian Market. Jewelry exhibitions and galleries such as the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian also have featured some of her collectible pieces.

Liz Wallace sells her work through trade shows and by partnering with trusted retailers or jewelry stores that put them in the market. Therefore, when planning to buy Liz Wallace jewelry, make sure that the store is an authorized dealer. Here are other tips that will guide you in purchasing original Liz Wallace-crafted jewelry.

Silver metal and turquoise

Liz Wallace’s favorite materials are gem-grade turquoise and sterling silver. She specifically likes sterling silver, saying that it is better than gold. Liz uses these two materials for all kinds of projects; in fact, she even makes bowls and other home decorations using them.

Nature-inspired

Though she showcases her tribe's culture in her work, Liz Wallace loves depicting the beauty of nature in her pins, bracelets, and pendants. She is fond of handcrafting stunning dragonflies and butterflies that you can either wear or display. She also creates florals and aquatic animal designs using different precious gemstones.

Features a variety of gemstones

Turquoise is the main element of Native American jewelry, but these days, Navajo artists like Liz Wallace also pick other gem-grade stones. She incorporates baroque pearls and sapphire the most in her creations.

Create a New Trend with Liz Wallace Jewelry

Insect forms such as her trademark dragonflies and stone-set butterflies are common centerpieces for Liz Wallace’s jewelry collections. With a penchant for styles like art deco and art nouveau, Liz is able to create pieces that combine traditional Dineh themes with influences from other schools of design. Her diverse understanding and background in historic jewelry from across the world also gives her work diversity. Add to this, her knowledge in advanced blacksmithing, stone setting techniques, enameling, and other jewelry making styles, it is not surprising why Liz Wallace’s jewelry is so rich and iconic.

Liz specializes in elaborate heirloom pieces. Each of her handiwork is made from high-quality materials that ensure longevity, making them great investments that can stand the ages. Her extravagant pieces feature multiple materials, including a variety of precious stones, gems, and metals. Her jewelry making style is as versatile as her influences and incredible creativity. Many of her pieces are extremely versatile and work well with almost any fashion inclination.

Her turquoise pin pendants, brooches, and statement necklaces are perfect accessories to almost any outfit, making personal styles more interesting. Liz has an eye for choosing the best materials to bring her design visions to life. Her pieces are enhanced by naturally gorgeous gems that come from the best mines. Set in intricate silverwork and layers of beads and other interesting materials, her collections are definitely among the most exciting pieces you will see in today’s market.

The success of her jewelry line is largely due to her innovative designs, making her pieces very attractive to collectors from around the world. When buying authentic pieces online, always choose reputable stores authorized to market and distribute jewelry from today’s most renowned artists. This will help make sure that you are getting only the highest quality, authentic pieces, sealed and approved by their makers.

Na Na Ping Jewelry: A Must Have Fashion Statement Accessory

Na Na Ping is a name that stands out when it comes to contemporary Native American Jewelry. In fact, he is recognized worldwide for the bold and elegant jewelry that he makes using modern and cutting-edge inlay techniques. Na Na Ping is also known as 'Michael Garcia,' and his creativity and expertise in making jewelry has earned him numerous awards. Some of his most popular creations are bracelets, pins, and pendants that are prized for their stones and their uniquely intricate designs. 

His skills were the result of hard work and inspiration. After graduating with a business degree at Arizona State University, he started making jewelry and honed his talent and skills over time. Na Na Ping initially experimented with inlay methods using semi-precious stones like sugilite, varascite, jade, and turquoise. He began to make a name for himself out of his unique ability to create mosaics of color out of complex cuts and placing them on heavy sterling silver shanks. This way, he is able to create distinctive pieces with a unique edge and character to each one of them.

Na Na Ping's method of creating mosaics make each piece look like the design is floating without the sterling silver underneath. This illusion gives his jewelry a special touch, especially on his pins and pendants. The rare gem grade Orville Jack turquoise and sugilite dragonfly design pin and the rare high grade Morenci turquoise and sugilite dragonfly design pin/pendant are perfect examples of that effect. 

Bracelets by Na Na Ping are made out of rare and precious stones that are not likely to be found anywhere else in the world. The Peacock, for instance, is a calcacitirite and varascite with traces of turquoise that is difficult to classify and mined only from north central Nevada. Na Na Ping took the one-of-a-kind gem from his own collection and crafted a stunning wide cuff bracelet, which features more than 1700 carats from a single nugget. He raised the stones in a wide channel to prevent the sterling silver below from showing.

The History of Navajo Jewelry and Its Significance

Some of the best pieces of Native American jewelry are made by Navajo artists, and many of these wearable artworks are sought-after by jewelry enthusiasts and collectors around the world. The Navajo started out as a nomadic society, and back then, their symbols of prestige and prominence were beaded necklaces, concho ornaments, and decorated bow guards. The Navajo wore jewelry acquired from trade and conquest, too, and the pieces were made of silver, copper, and brass. Certain pieces were worn to express a sense of pride and showcase beauty.

The Spanish introduced silversmithing to Native Americans in the Southwest, including the Navajo. Since then, tribes and pueblos have developed and perfected their own unique techniques and styles of jewelry making, which they passed down from generation to generation. These time-honored methods of making Navajo jewelry are considered art forms. Navajo artists use hand tools and traditional techniques to create designs that rely on skill, patience, and imagination rather than machinery. No piece is exactly like another.

Tufa casting and sand-casting are two of the prominent methods of jewelry making that are still used by contemporary Navajo artists. The techniques require the silversmith to carve a mold into which molten silver is poured Often the molds will be destroyed after a single use Tufa cast bracelets, pendants, rings, and other pieces of jewelry often feature intricate designs and details that took a great amount of skill and time to complete.

Navajo jewelry is distinctive for its use of turquoise. Sources for this wonderful stone include mines primarily found in Arizona and Nevada. The lovely blue stone is considered by the Navajo to be a gift from the heavens. Hence, some of the earliest forms of valuable Navajo pieces were carved turquoise beads. The stone was associated with happiness, good luck, and healing. Navajo jewelry can also include beautiful coral, lapis, and other materials.

Three Famous Native American Jewelry Artists

Native American jewelry is truly unique. Each piece speaks volumes about culture and history, skill and heritage, beauty and emotions. If you are looking to collect or purchase Native American jewelry, here are three famous artists you should know about:

1. Thomas Curtis – Award-winning Navajo jeweler, Thomas Curtis, had over 50 years of experience in creating jewelry professionally. He is best known for silver jewelry pieces that are stamped with amazing and intricate designs, such as an interwoven look. Thomas used hardened steel and then carved it with chisels to create his outstanding stamps. He honed his skills since childhood and his creations continue to be sought after by serious collectors. His simple yet elegant designs set the standard for many contemporary artists of today and he remains a pioneer in world class Native American jewelry.

2. Julian Lovato – A master craftsman, Julian Lovato is known for his intricate and highly collectible jewelry. He is an excellent silver and goldsmith, and his pieces masterfully incorporate elegant metal work with precious stones such as turquoise and coral. Coming from a family of jewelry makers, Julian worked as a stone cutter and a silver monogrammer. Some of his pieces include brooches, cufflinks, rings, buckles and exquisite necklaces. Aside from jewelry, Julian Lovato also made collectible teapots, pitchers, silver bowls, and trays. He remains an icon in the world of Native American jewelry.

3. Liz Wallace – Innovative and revolutionary, Liz Wallace is a contemporary jewelry artist who specializes in the use of natural turquoise stones. She is inspired by nature, creating pieces that depict dragonflies and butterflies and other creatures. Wallace’s parents are both silver and goldsmiths. Her unique pieces make her works more than just jewelry but rather an art. Some of her creations can be found in museums throughout the country.

You can purchase wonderful pieces from these famous Native American jewelry artists online. With their popularity, you might stumble upon look-alikes, but they are nowhere near the quality and mastery of the originals. Make sure the pieces you purchase from Native American jewelry artists come with a certificate of authenticity.