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~ Books on American
Indian Baskets, Crafts, Jewelry & Pottery ~
This section offers books on and about handmade Native American
Indian arts and crafts. Topics focus on work by the Native peoples of the
American Southwest including the Apache, Hopi, Navajo, Tohono O'odham, and
many of the New Mexico pueblos including Acoma and Zuni. The subjects include
baskets, carved fetishes, folk art, jewelry and silverwork, pottery, sandpaintings,
and miniature Indian arts such as baskets and pottery. Books on the natural
turquoise from the American desert Southwest and hallmarks used by hundreds
of American Indian silversmiths (Hopi, Navajo, Santo Domingo, Zuni) are also
offered.
~More Books~
Navajo Blanket & Rug Weavings | Native
American History, People, and Culture
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"Turquoise Unearthed, an Illustrated Guide" 80 pages; 70 color photographs and illustrations;
paper. In the American Southwest, turquoise is a highly prized gemstone with great cultural significance. The authors are leading experts on the subject and this is the definitive resource. Lowry describes the fascinating history of turquoise mining in the American Southwest and reveals the astonishing variety of colors and forms that make this a gemstone like no other. Among Native American peoples of the Southwest, turquoise is especially prized with blue stones symbolizing "Father Sky" and greener ones evoking "Mother Earth." This lavishly illustrated volume also features some of the fines examples of antique and contemporary Southwest turquoise jewelry. 6" x 9". |
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"Pueblo Stories & Storytellers" 56 pp.; 134 b&w, 42 color photographs; paper. This new edition of a very popular title has been revised and redesigned for a whole new generation of enthusiasts. Story- teller figures represent one of the more recent developments in the dynamic transformations underway in Native American art today. The continued demand for Mark Bahti's delightful book about these figures and the traditions from which they spring is a testament to their enormous appeal. 8" x 9.5". |
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"Indian Basketmakers of the Southwest" 140 pages; extensive b&w and color photos; paper During the last decade, there has been an electrifying basket renaissance across much of the Southwest, and explosive burst of creativity and innovation documented in this volume. Presented are the contemporary baskets and basketmaking traditions of southwestern tribes, including the Haulapai, Havasupai, Yavapai, Western Apache, the Tohono O'odham, the Pueblos of New Mexico and Hopi of Arizona. 9" x 11.5" |
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"Zuni Fetishes & Carvings" 144 pages; over 700 fetishes in full color; paper. How can fetishes help us in our daily lives? What does the bear represent? The frog? The wolf? What powers do they contain? In this deluxe edition, noted dealer in Native American art Kent McManis answers these questions and explains the different types of fetishes with special emphasis on the two major traditional types: the protective/healing group, and the hunting group. Also provided are family trees for the more prominent fetish carving families, along with more than 700 fetishes in full color representing the work of nearly 600 carvers. 6" x 8.25" |
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"Navajo Ceremonial Baskets: This well-documented, beautifully illustrated work with over 100 full color photos of baskets, weavers and related objects, details the history, origins, and meanings of ceremonial baskets in Navajo culture. Included are detailed color photos of vintage and modern baskets, portraits of award-winning basket weavers and their work, in-depth interviews with Navajo medicine men, tips about the etiquette and safekeeping of ceremonial baskets, colorful tales of Kicking Rock Man, Changing Woman, Monster Slayer, and their role in the origin of the baskets, a glossary of essential Navajo words, and more. 7" x 10" |
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"A Guide to Navajo Sandpaintings" 64 pages; 65 color photos; cloth. A Guide to Navajo Sandpaintings provides
a fascinating introduction to the religious image created by Navajo
medicine men as part of traditional curing ceremonies. While many designs
and their accompanying changes have been lost to time, other remain
a vital part of Navajo religious practice and have emerged as a dynamic
art form. Native American arts authority Mark Bahti describes the history
and development of this healing art and reveals the story behind more
than sixty individual sandpainting designs. He also explains how contemporary
artists honor the traditions of their elders while breaking new ground
for this fascination art form. |
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"A Guide to Zuni Fetishes & Carvings" 47 pages; 25 color photographs; glossary; paper. This great little book, provides an interesting introduction to Zuni fetish carvings. The background, symbolism, and traditions of the major fetishes are discussed, color photos, many with multiple creatures are presented, and a glossary is provided. 4.5" x 6.25". |
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"Spirit in the Stone, a Handbook of Southwest 156 pages; illustrated; paper Noted Indian arts & crafts expert Mark Bahti has compiled an exhaustive reference book to answer hundreds of questions about Native American fetishes and carvings. Part I introduces the tribes of the Southwest and their traditional uses of fetishes. Part II contains the stories and legends associated with the animals and other figures represented by these fetish forms. Part III covers the materials both traditional and innovative that Native American artists use. 6" x 8.5" |
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"A Guide To Indian Jewelry of the Southwest" 46 pages; 20 color photographs; paper. A great primer for the non-specialist, this book features beautiful photographs of jewelry by Hopi, Navajo, Santo Domingo and Zuni artists. The photos accompany short descriptive text detailing the meticulous tasks the artists perform to create the distinctive Southwest style of wearable art. 4.5" x 6.25". |
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"Hallmarks of the Southwest" 244 pages; 36 color photos; 520 marks; hard cover. A comprehensive source for identifying the marks of the American Southwest Indian artist working in metal, clay, wood, textiles and paint - an important record of the work of these talented people. The information is alphabetically arranged and includes important personal data, tribal affiliations, working dates, materials used, and facsimiles of the artists marks. This excellent second edition features an additional 40 new pages of information and marks. 8.5" x 11". 6 indices. |
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"Hopi Silver, Although the Hopi people in northern Arizona acquired silvermaking at a later date than other tribes in the southwest, they have developed a distinctive and fine quality jewelry that is equal artistically to that of any other silver smiths in the world. This revised edition is the most comprehensive guide available on Hopi silversmithing. It includes over 300 silversmiths and their hallmarks - the personal stamps that smiths use to mark their work - as well as a written and photographic chronicle of this beautiful art form. 6.75" x 9.5" |
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"Zuni Fetishes" 170 pages; paper. The author explores key principles of Native American spirituality, how early Zuni teachings can benefit us today, and provides a guide to Zuni traditions. Also instructions for using fetishes for meditation reflection, and insight in modern life. 7.5" 9.25" |
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"Southwestern Pottery, Anasazi to Zuni" 189 pages; Over 1100 pots shown This is an art book, a history book, and a reference book that is fun to read and beautiful to look at. Showing pieces from the prehistoric to the present and every pot-producing tribal group in the Southwest -Yuman to Hopi to Taos to Casas Grandes- it is the book the authors wished they had when the pottery bug first hit them. They explain what to look for when buying a pot, how much to pay, and when and how to trade. 10.5"w x 9.5"h. |
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"A Guide To Pueblo Pottery" by Susan Lamb 47 pages; 18 color photos; paper. Pottery is an honored tradition, for pots have held the food and water of countless generations of Pueblo ancient ceremonies. A description of each Pueblo and the pottery they crate is followed by the photograph of the pottery typical of that Pueblo. 4.5" x 6.25". |
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"The Papago Indians and Their Baskets" 48 pages; 183 color and B&W photos; paper Photographs and concise text give the reader a keen insight on the life, culture and craft of this Arizona Indian tribe whose desert reservation lies along the border of Arizona and Sonora, Mexico. The Papago, now officially known as the Tohono O'odham Nation are skilled basketmakers using yucca fiber and beargrass for their creations. Some also weave exquisite miniature baskets out of horsehair. 8.5" x 11" |
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"Southwest Indian Designs with Some Explanations" 48 pages; black & white illustrations; paper. Explains more than 200 of the most frequently used Southwestern Indian designs, including those from the Zuni, Navajo, Hopi, Tewa, Acoma, Pueblo, and Hohokam peoples. 8.5" x 11". |
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