Native American cuff bracelets are versatile and allow you to make a personal statement. Creating jewelry is a craft, and Native Americans from various tribes use natural materials to construct jewelry by hand for bracelets that are unique and portray a visualization of each tribe’s culture.
The combination of base materials and gemstones combined in a broad range of colors and designs provides you with breathtaking choices of wearable art that tell a story from each individual creator.
Native American Cuff Bracelets
When Native Americans first began creating jewelry, they shaped stones with multiple colors and even shells into items that they could wear. Over time, Sterling silver and gemstones were used in their work. Symbols and gemstones are carved and arranged in an aesthetically pleasing way that portrays a piece of culture to the wearer.
Sterling Silver Cuff bracelets
Many cuff bracelets are created using Sterling silver. The Native Americans learned blacksmithing from the Spanish when they arrived in the region. Although the Navajo tribe was the first to learn this skill, it quickly spread to other tribes.
Silver cuff bracelets may be smooth or twisted, but typically, this style is carved, engraved, or stamped with meaningful symbols. Gemstones, such as turquoise, coral, malachite, or shell, may be added to create the desired effect as each holds special meaning for both the wearer and the artisan.
Squash Blossom Cuff Bracelets
This style of bracelet gets its name owing to the central focus of gemstones which creates the appearance of a flower in full bloom. The design is large and bold, and both Navajo and Zuni women would wear one of these pieces on each wrist for special events or when they wished to dress up.
These pieces are typically made with turquoise or coral beads set on a plate of sterling silver that’s attached to several thin bands of sterling to create the cuff. Additional beads are placed on the cuff to emphasize the impact of the central blossom design.
Vintage Cuff Bracelets
Vintage Sterling or copper cuffs include elegant engravings or stampings and may include stones such as turquoise, lapis, coral, shell, or a combination of gemstones. Created in the mid-to-late 20th century, these pieces exhibit the exquisite detail for which Native Americans are celebrated.
You’ll find gemstones with traditional oval and circular shapes as well as those with distinct geometric designs. The metal band may be intricately shaped, carved, or overlaid for a dimensional impact.
Authentic Native American Cuff Bracelets
Finding authentic jewelry can be difficult, so it’s important to choose a reliable source when making your purchase. Shop our vast selection of authentic Native American cuff bracelets at Kachina House. Because each cuff bracelet is individually created, the selection can change as inventory is purchased and new pieces are added.
