Native American Art
In recent years, collecting Native American art pieces has become a popular hobby. As our interest in Native American culture and customs grows, the demand for authentic artwork is steadily increasing. With several different types of handmade art to choose from, many art enthusiasts focus on one particular category to add to their collection.
One well known type of Native American art is fetish carvings. These pieces can be composed of many different materials including: alabaster, turquoise, marble, and jasper. Fetish carvings are miniature imitations of animals. The badger, bear, eagle, mole, mountain lion, and wolf are the animals most represented. Novice buyers can start a collection relatively cheap. Two factors that help in determining the price of a piece are materials used and the amount of carving required.
Wool rugs are another form of Native American art produced primarily by the Navaho Indians. The rugs are designed using handmade looms often constructed by the artist himself. Although rug weavers may produce similar looking designs, since they are individually crafted, each piece has its own unique style. Some of the more expensive rugs can cost several thousand dollars.
Pottery making is one of the oldest Native American art traditions. Unlike commercial pottery pieces, the clay is actually extracted from the ground first and then all of the shaping is done by hand. Today Native American artists may bake their pottery pieces by either an outdoor or an electric kiln. Pottery that is baked in a modern electric kiln will generally have a harder texture than pieces fired in an outdoor oven.
No matter what type of Native American art you wish to collect or purchase, it helps to first do some research to see what is available. Learn what to look for when searching for authentic artwork. By knowing how to recognize truly handmade pieces, you can better determine an items value.
Please send any comments directly to the author, Joseph Paige.