Hand Crafted Hopi Kilt Pins

**David Dalglish** · 27th December 06, 06:37 AM

Great looking kilt pins Ron, very unusual.

**millar** · 27th December 06, 08:55 AM

Those are beautiful Ron. Thanks for sharing them.

**Scott Gilmore** · 27th December 06, 04:09 PM

Those are two handsome pins. Thanks for posting. (Nice tartans they're on, too.)
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**wsk** · 27th December 06, 07:48 PM

I have always liked Native American art and have a pretty fair collection of pueblo pottery, Navajo rugs, baskets from a variety of tribes, Hopi katchinas, and even a bit of jewelry - earrings, pins, tie tacks, buttons - that I used to decorate my cowboy-hat's hatband. So, it was no stretch for me to use the device from a bolo tie as my first kilt pin, a - rather too large I suspect - silver eagle.

My sister was given a brooch at Christmas which is silver, jet, and gray and black anasazi pottery (just a shard from private land so it's legal). First words out of my mouth? "This would make a perfect kilt pin." Unless it seems that I should do otherwise, I'll keep using Native American art for my kilt pins.

**Andrew Green** · 29th December 06, 07:45 PM

The pics didn't load for me. Ron do you have a link to a gallery or something with them in there? I really want to see these, as they sound very interesting. Being made of silver, wouldn't that more or less make them a warrior's accesory too? I recall in some Native belief systems, silver was a more sacred, or indentifying material.

*had to fix bad punctuation.

**Riverkilt** · 29th December 06, 08:28 PM

Thanks Andrew,

Gotta love technology. I do have pics of them in my British Gallery. I think on page 3 in the Kilt Things gallery. Has a pic of Hopi dancers. The kilt pins would be on the last page of that album.

I think the Hopi and the Navajo picked up silversmithing from the Spanish invaders. Not sure there's any special significance to the silver itself. It is the source of a HUGE underground economy. Craftsman make their silver art, sell it direct to the public in various ways or through trading posts or stores. If they need extra money they pawn some of their silver jewelry at a trading post and redeem it later.

When I get a chance I want to talk to my lady and have her ask some of the craftsmen she knows on the Hopi if they do custom work. I know she's had some pieces done. It isn't cheap, but its less expensive and a person could get what he wanted...like a clan crest etc. Will keep you guys posted in case there's any interest.

She saved some money on hers by supplying the craftsman with the silver. Gave him some old Mexican silver coins she had and he melted them down for the silver.

Ron