Saturday, September 5, 2015

Search Native American Merchandise Online

By Daphne Bowen


Many Mighty nations consisting of hundreds of separate tribes occupied the New World in the time before European colonization. Each set was its own entity with unique beliefs, traditions, culture and style of art. The trade of the craftsmen of old are still carried on today by their descendants, who provide Native American Merchandise online for sale to the general masses.

On designated lands known as reservations, several of the tribes still live and operate as completely independent nations, following their own laws, religions and ways. Modern day artisans residing in and around those borders have dedicated their lives to keeping the practices of their ancestral craftsmen active. They utilize trade secrets and skills that have been passed down through the generations.

The sun, moon, stars, animals, nature and religion are some of things with which the tribesmen have long felt a spiritual connection and as such, they are commonly represented in their art. The traditional use of only organic materials in their creations seems to give each hand crafted piece a special ambiance. Beads, feathers, quills, wood, sand, stone, shells, gems, clay, silver, bone, leather and wool are just a sampling of the natural supplies often utilized.

There are companies who will mass produce products based on the various styles of these tribes, to sell as representative pieces. These items generally tend to be manufactured by machines in great quantities and fabricated using synthetic materials like plastic, nylon and acrylic. Authentic works will always be crafted by hand utilizing traditional construction practices.

Souvenir focused websites tend to feature such popular items as beaded purses, dream catchers, seed bead bracelets, jewelry made of silver and turquoise, drums, moccasins and totem poles. These are the type of things that the general population associates with the tribal communities most easily. They also sell novelty products like books, paintings, posters, key chains and trinkets.

Those sites that focus on authenticity generally have a more elite inventory. They may feature specialized and treasured items like the fantastically mesmerizing Hopi kachina dolls or the intricate carvings done in whale bone and soapstone by the Yupik and Innuit people. The fine wool rugs that the Navajo weave by hand on looms are of incredible quality and each one is different from all the others.

Woven baskets, clay pottery, beaded works, musical instruments, dolls and masks are all available in the individual styles of over a hundred different tribes. Crafted by hand, they are each a true artistic treasure. Avid collectors may even be able to locate hard to find pieces that have been decorated with porcupine quills, a material that through an intricate preparation procedure, was used for decorating clothing before the discovery of beads. And which has since become an obscure skill.

Websites that primarily feature authentic items may offer specialized products that are harder to find on general markets. This might include pieces such as headdresses done in the many styles worn by both warriors and chieftains within all of the different tribes. Collectors of fine handiwork could also seek out treasured crafts like medicine wheels, hoop masks, baleen baskets, fetish carvings, or very detailed sand paintings.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment