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Personalized Navajo Native American brooch in turquoise

A brooch is a piece of jewelry that is attached to clothing, most often for aesthetic purposes. It is primarily a women's accessory. It generally consists of two parts: the decorative part, which faces forward, and the hidden clasp, which is attached to the back either by gluing or soldering.

The Various Sizes and Styles of Silver and Turquoise Brooches

Brooches come in different sizes, shapes, and materials, although the method of fastening generally remains the same. Brooches date back to the Bronze Age. If made of precious metal and precious or semi-precious stones, they can become pieces of jewelry. Native American brooches are made of solid silver and represent either an animal, an insect, or an object with a specific meaning. For example, the brooches of the Hopi and Zuni Indians represent the kachinas, which are spirits. These spirits depicted on their brooches are numerous, and here is a non-exhaustive list:

But also mischievous, playful, benevolent, or malevolent spirits—it's a kind of inventory of the visible and invisible world. For the Hopi and Zuni Indians, kachinas are the souls of the first children who drowned in a river during an ancestral migration. Some represent dancers and are given to children.

A custom-made Native American brooch: an original gift

All brooches are, of course, made of sterling silver and are inlaid with semi-precious stones such as turquoise, jade, or opal. ARTBJU can create a custom brooch for you. Simply tell us your preferred shape, what you would like it to represent, whether you want it in sterling silver, and the stones you would like to see in your brooch.