Southwest Indian Jewelry: Tools

This page includes sets or individual tools used in the manufacture of Native American silver jewelry.  Many of them are stamps used for decorating jewelry.  Some of the tools were made from rat tail files, from flat files and other metal objects.  They are sometimes stored in tin boxes or similar containers for easy carrying.   It is rare for a jeweler to pawn or even sell his tools, as he'd need them for his work.  Oftentimes, they would be passed down from one generation to the next.  

A Brief History of Navajo & Pueblo Jewelry from ATADA.org on Vimeo.