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вторник, 8 сентября 2015 г.

True Treasures In Native American Gift Shops

By Daphne Bowen


The earliest inhabitants of what are now known as the United States were the great tribal nations of the Navajo, Cherokee, Apache, Hopi, Mohawk, Seminole, Pueblo and many more. Each one existed independently, with their own spiritual beliefs, cultural traditions, laws, history and artistic style. Plenty of Native American gift shops offer authentic products created by skilled artisans of The People.

A lot of stores that cater to tourist will sell novelty items and products based on the iconic images of the various tribes. These are typically things like dolls wearing traditional costumes, drums, headdresses, tomahawks, dream catchers, beaded pieces, paintings, postcards and key rings. In such circumstances, those goods are generally mass produced in factories instead of created by hand.

Usually found in areas where the modern tribal presence is strong, or near reservations, are stores that strive to provide customers with many authentic products. These items are all hand crafted one at a time by skilled tribal artisans that have mastered trade practices that have passed from one generation to another for centuries. Each one exhibits fine quality, uniqueness and attention to fine details.

To craft in the traditional styles and be truly authentic, the artisans should use only natural materials as their ancestors did for hundreds of years. Construction typically includes such things as natural types of clay, silver, wool, fur, leather, gems, stones, quills and feathers, as examples. Every piece is done by hand and favored subject matters are human forms, landscapes and the elements in the skies, often featuring earthen tones, geometric shapes and spiritual symbolism.

A lot of people who seek out authentic and traditionally styled crafts of high quality often appreciate the skill of basketry. Each region varied their techniques depending on the materials that were available to work with. As an example, all types of baskets, trays and jars are constructed of whale baleen in the far north area of Alaska, thin strips of wood in the northeast and grass or yucca leaves in the southwestern zones.

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.

Both haunting and captivating, kachina dolls are specialties of the many Pueblo tribes such as the Hopi, Zuni and Navajo, and are actively sought out by collectors. They are totems generally in forms representing the spirits of men, animals and the sun, often shown as dancing. The figurines are said to have the supernatural ability to perform actions like increasing fertility, assuring good health or well being and even making it rain.

Beading is an art that will vary in style with each region. Seed beads are used by almost all traditional artisans to add embellishment to many items, including shoes, clothing, fabrics, pipes, drums and basket handles, as well as to create beautiful jewelry. There are hundreds of authentic traditional tribal crafts that one may find and enjoy.




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