Navajo Silversmiths | Page 6

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

End of Project Gutenberg's Navajo Silversmiths, by Washington Matthews
*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NAVAJO SILVERSMITHS ***
***** This file should be named 17275-8.txt or 17275-8.zip ***** This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: http://www.gutenberg.org/1/7/2/7/17275/
Produced by Verity White, PM for Bureau of American Ethnology and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by the Biblioth��que nationale de France (BnF/Gallica) at http://gallica.bnf.fr)
Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will be renamed.
Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is subject to the trademark license, especially commercial redistribution.

*** START: FULL LICENSE ***
THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE PLEASE READ