Navajo Sterling Silver Butterfly Pin [SOLD]

The 1930s were an innovative time for Navajo Silversmithing. Two factors influenced this creative explosion. First was the availability of new materials and techniques. Sheet metal and sterling silver slugs as well as pre-cut and polished stones were made available from the traders. Second was the development of a partnership between the traders and artists to facilitate the production of goods. These two factors allowed the artists to be more creative in their work.

The tourist industry in the American Southwest was booming and the art of the Native American was in high demand. Traders encouraged Navajo jewelers to experiment with new ideas that would appeal to the tourists. They used images like eagles and arrows that travelers associated with Indian culture as well as bird and animal figures that reflected their appreciation of the natural world.

One of the most popular items created by the Navajo silversmiths was the butterfly. The beauty and symmetry of the butterfly appealed both to the makers and the buyer. This piece has a curved shape that makes it more realistic than most pieces of the time. The stamps create an elegant balance that is so important to the Navajo aesthetic.