Here’s a “one-in-a-million” story we thought you might enjoy. Eric came home with this necklace today (October 26, 2017) and showed it to me without providing any explanation. I puzzled over it, wondering what famous artist made it, as there was no hallmark. Keep in mind it was fairly tarnished so I knew he must […]

You may have heard that the Sleeping Beauty Mine in Globe, Arizona, closed. Although we had been told by reputable sources, we nevertheless decided to do some extra checking to be 100% certain. Sadly, it is certain — in August 2012, the Sleeping Beauty Mine ceased its turquoise mining operation to focus on copper extraction. […]

Polychrome pottery is described as a vessel decorated with three or more colors. Acoma artists have for decades been masters of combining colorful designs and patterns. Presently, we have dozens of examples for you to choose from. Come in to see the latest works from Diane Lewis, Franklin Peters and Sandra Victorino. We have work […]

We hope you had a wonderful holiday season and your new year will be happy! All of us at Americana Indian Shows would like to thank you for your support of American Indian arts and artists. We look forward to bringing you the best of the Southwest in 2012! We had a great time over […]

Near the 1st of December, the Zuni conduct a series of dances to celebrate a successful year’s harvest and to bless the latest village constructions. The festivities include a large feast as well as the performance of the Shalako Katsina. It is these Katsina that pray for the ever-vital rains to provide for the village crops. […]

An article by Lee Anderson Turquoise has been native to jewelry in the Southwest for over 2000 years. Then, as now, the stone was deeply appreciated and revered. No doubt, the prehistoric Indians and the ancestors of our current Native Americans ascribed a multitude of properties to this stone. Pima of Southern Arizona According to […]

An article by Lee Anderson What is the best turquoise for jewelry? The answer is, “it depends on the type of jewelry you desire.” Gem Grade and Rare If the piece is to be one-of-a-kind, competition, top-investment-quality, the turquoise should be gem grade and rare. The stone should compliment the artist and the gold or […]

An article by Lee Anderson Although turquoise has captivated man’s imagination for centuries, nobody knows when it came to our attention. Archeological and literary references to the stone predate the Christian era by five millennia. The four bracelets of Queen Zar, found on her mummified arm, date back to the second ruler of the Egypt’s […]

An article by Lee Anderson Turquoise consists of the chemical elements copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), phosphorus (PO4), and water (H2O). It is described as a “hydrous basic aluminum phosphate of copper” or a “hydrous aluminum phosphate colored by copper salts.” Its chemical formula is: CuAl6 (PO44)8 4H2O, although this varies widely. This molecular structure permits […]

An article by Lee Anderson  Hardness Turquoise is opaque and has a Mohs scale hardness that varies remarkably. The soft, deeply mined chalks may only slightly exceed 2 on the Mohs scale, whereas a hard, gem specimen may exceed 6. The hardness varies in response to several factors, including environment and matrix. The silicification process, […]