PAWN JEWELRY

Beads, colored stones and shells have been highly prized and traded since before recorded history. Inter-tribal traders have always found a ready market for ornamental items -- used for ceremonial purposes, as a means of showing personal stature whthin the community, and as a store of wealth. Turquoise, in particular , was believed to have healing powers, as well as being valued for its beauty. In actuality, these items were exchanged and used as money before this commodity was invented.

When silver was introduced to the Southwest by the Spanish, a new dimension was added. The Indians pounded it, shaped it, set stones into it, and created unusual and stunning pieces of jewelry.

As the awest developed, traders began to settle on the Indian lands. Most of them, having European origins, were familiar with the use of fine jewelry as security for business ventures and loans. They fely quite comfortable granting lines of credit to their neighbors in exchange for the new goods which they bought. These loans were most often secured by jewelry, weavings and beadwork which were valued by both the borrowers and the lenders.

This system of pawning goods became an intrinsic part ot life in Indian country. Over the years, a mutual dependency deeveloped among the two groups. For example, on the western reservations, traders would extend credit for pawn jewelry in the fall which would carry the Indian families through the winter. In the spring, after lambing and shearing, the traders would release the pawned goods in exchange for lambs and wool which they, in turn, sold on the open market.

Traditional pawn jewelry is today some of the most highly prized of all Indian jewelry by collectors seeking their own store of value. Being sure one gets the real thing can be a challenge, however, since there are many fradulent pieces being represented as authentic.

 As with any investment, a buyer must spend time looking and learning before making a purchase. Perhaps, in the long run, however, the most important thing a collector can do is to establish a relationship with a reputable dealer - one who stands behind his merchandise, and who has a long term reputation in the business.