Coral in the Southwest

From Native American Information Superhighway Alltribes™ Wiki

Red Gold

EDITORIAL NOTE: The following feature has been, for the most part, excerpted from a monograph, "Red Gold - Coral," by Basilio Liverino, based on an illustrated seminar presentation at the Rotary Club - Districts of Castellammare Stabia-Sorrento and Naples.

According to the world renowned expert on Coral, Basilio Liverino, of Torre de Greco, Italy, Indians of New Mexico and Arizona considered coral as an ornament of the highest value and esteem. The mysterious gem was attributed with such great power it was thought it could cure anything from blindness to a snakebite, and brought the wearer great luck, long life and virility.

The reason for the premium value set on coral used in pawn jewelry is the hand drilling and meticulous hand craftsmanship used to work the material. The aesthetic craftsmanship displayed by the Native Americans of the Southwest, in drilling tiny beads of coral, has never been equaled... and insures pawn coral jewelry a permanent position in value and history. In recent years, much coral has been drilled by machine or ultra sonic methods and shipped to the reservation or shops ready to string. Regardless of the method of working coral, it is as highly valued by the Navajo, Hopi and Pueblo tribes today as it was when it was first introduced.

The Native Americans of the Southwest have always treasured the "red gold", coral. Hopis were using necklaces of coral and turquoise at their snake dances in the 1870's and 1880's. At the Zuni dances the deep red coral is a favorite complement to silver and turquoise. The Navajos prefer the red-orange beads. With Navajo women, strands of coral beads are a symbol of success and social prominence... the standard being a minimum of ten strands at the time of the woman's thirteenth birthday. The most prized and cherished necklaces of coral and turquoise tied to one of the strands. These "sign-ties" are mementos of the signs and dances which the lady has attended and attest to her popularity and status.