Although we are located in Snowflake, AZ, we make frequent trips to New Mexico & other parts of Arizona, and even to Old Mexico to purchase the Native American Pottery, Kachina Dolls, Sand Paintings, Hunting Knives, Petrified Wood, Rosaries, Indian Baskets, & Native American Music that you see on our website. The Native American Pottery is made by people whose ancestors were practicing this art long before Cortez & his Conquistadores explored our region (which is now New Mexico & Arizona). The skills necessary in making Native American Pottery are carefully handed down, generation by generation, with each new "crop"of artists adding new skills and techniques to their pottery trade. Native American Pottery is decorated by hand in traditional patterns representing things encountered in the daily lives of the southwestern Indian tribes. Some patterns on the Native American Pottery represent rain, crops, clouds, corn, various animals, and other things important to the Indians. Thus, pottery serves many purposes. Pottery is culturally significant. Pottery is art in a beautiful form.
Kachina Dolls represent the spirits of the invisible life forces. Kachinas are supernatural beings who mediate between the gods & people who live on earth. As divine messengers, Kachinas relay the wishes of the people to the gods, possibly for rain, or a more plentiful harvest, or healing of a disease. Kachina Dolls, like the masks humans wear to represent the Kachina, may symbolize animals, plants, stars, demons, warriors, clowns, or mythical beings.
The Sand Paintings we offer at this time are mostly Navajo made. The Sand Paintings may depict items & designs important to the life of the designer, such as pottery, jewelry, scenes of nature, animals. Many Sand Paintings will also show Kachinas.
Our Hunting Knives are hand made by Ken Richardson, a famous maker of Cherokee Hunting Knives. These Hunting Knives are made of surgical 1085 Hi Carbon Polished & Tempered Spring Steel, with hand carved handles. The handles of these Hunting Knives are made from either whitetail deer, mule deer or elk.
Our Petrified Wood comes mostly from the Arizona Petrified Forest. Petrified wood was created from a variety of trees when those trees were buried in volcanic ash; the different colors in the Petrified Wood were created from different minerals to which the wood was exposed. Some Petrified Wood has part of the "bark" still attached, or knot holes visible.
Native American Indian Basket weaving is becoming a lost art. Indian Baskets originally were used, not only for holding objects, but also traded as currency. The design on the Indian Basket may reflect the landscape, a sacred space; the Indian Basket represents the world.
We currently offer Native American Music by such artists as Alice Gomez, Ron Allen, Robert Tree Cody & Brule. Native American Music can be a combination of guitar, flute, and various other instruments. Some Native American Music is traditional, with drums, other with a soft, lilting melody. Journey into the world of the Native Southwest with our variety of Native American Music.
Our Rosaries are all hand made by various local artists. Some are Indian made, some are not. We try to offer a variety of different types of Rosaries, with many types of stones. We are especially fond of Rosaries made from turquoise, but they are hard to find, and expensive. If you are looking for a Rosary made special, let us know. Our Rosary makers are very creative.
