Navajo Silversmiths | Page 6

articles of apparel, and often contain metal
to the value of forty or fifty dollars. Pl. XX represents an Indian
wearing such a belt, in which only three of the plates are shown. Single
and double crosses of silver are represented attached to his necklace.
The cross is much worn by the Navajos, among whom, I understand, it

is not intended to represent the "Cross of Christ," but is a symbol of the
morning star. The lengthening of the lower limb, however, is probably
copied from the usual form of the Christian emblem. These savage
smiths also display much ingenuity in working from models and from
drawings of objects entirely new to them.
They are very wasteful of material. They usually preserve the clippings
and melt them in the crucible, or use them in soldering; but they make
no attempt to save the metal carried off in filing, polishing, and by
oxidizing in the forge, all of which is considerable. In one article of
silver, for which, allowing for clippings saved, 836 grains were given
to the smith, and the work on which I watched so closely throughout
that I am certain none of the material was stolen, there was a loss of
120 grains, or over 14 per cent.
The smiths whom I have seen working had no dividers, square,
measure, or any instrument of precision. As before stated, I have seen
scissors used as compasses, but as a rule they find approximate centers
with the eye, and cut all shapes and engrave all figures by the unaided
guidance of this unreliable organ. Often they cut out their designs in
paper first and from them mark off patterns on the metal. Even in the
matter of cutting patterns they do not seem to know the simple device
of doubling the paper in order to secure lateral uniformity.
Here ends my description of the smithcraft of a rude but docile and
progressive people. I trust that it may serve not only to illustrate some
aspects of their mental condition, their inventive and imitative talents,
but possibly to shed some light on the condition and diffusion of the art
of the metalist in the prehistoric days of our continent, notwithstanding
the fact that some elements of their craft are of recent introduction and
others of doubtful origin.
[Illustration: Pl. XX. NAVAJO INDIAN WITH SILVER
ORNAMENTS.]
INDEX.
Almogen used by Navajoes in blanching silver 175 Articles made by

Navajo silversmiths 171, 176 Bellows used by Navajo silversmiths 172
Blanching silver, Navajo method of 175 Blow-pipe of Navajo
silversmiths 175 Charcoal, Navajo method of preparing 175 Chasing
silver, Navajo method of 176 Coin used by Navajo silversmiths 177
Cross design associated with others in Navajo silver ornamentation 178
Crucibles of Navajo silversmiths 173 Fertility of design of Navajo
silversmiths 177 Files used in engraving silver 174 Forge of the Navajo
silversmith 172 Improvement of the silversmith's craft among the
Navajoes 171 Matthews, Dr. W., Navajo silversmiths by, 167 Moulds
used by Navajo Silversmiths 173 Silversmith's craft among the
Navajoes 171 Polishing silver, Navajo method of 175 Processes of the
Navajo silversmith 171, 176 ; blanching 175 ; chasing 176 ; polishing
175 ; soldering 176 Silversmith among the Navajos and Pueblos,
Origin of 171 Soldering silver, Navajo method of 176 Tools used by
Navajo silversmith 172 ; anvil 173 ; awl 174 ; bellows 172 ; blow-pipe
175 ; cold-chisel 174 ; crucibles 173 ; files 174 ; hammers 174
inefficient 178 ; metallic hemispheres 174 ; molds 173 ; pliers 174 ;
scissors 174, 178 Wastefulness of the Navajo silversmith 174, 178

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