Amulets and Adornments: The Value of Finger Rings at Mission Sites in La Florida.
Dissertation, Available Online
This dissertation explores the cultural significance of finger rings in 17th century Spanish American colonial sites, specifically in modern day Florida. Bobbit looks at the use of finger rings to convey fashion, social standing, and religious beliefs. Rings were originally brought from Spain by missionaries to use as gifts and rewards for locals. The rings often carried religious symbols, and reinforced Catholicism throughout Spanish Floridian culture. They also conveyed social class, based on material.
Say My Name: Nameplate Jewelry and the Politics of Taste.
Flower, I., & Rosa-Salas, M. (2017).
Journal Article, Available Online
Authors Flower and Rosa-Salas explore the importance of nameplate jewelry in contemporary United States culture. Nameplate jewelry serves to express identity and individuality. However, it is often criticized and politicized. This article seeks to understand the use of nameplate jewelry through the lens of race, class, and gender.
The Turquoise Trail: Native American Jewelry and Culture of the Southwest.
Karasik, Carol., & Foxx, J. J. (1993).
Book, available in person through SUNY Albany Library
ISBN: 9780810938694
Authors Karasik and Foxx explore the use of turquoise jewelry in Southwest Native American cultures. The books traverses eras, from the ancient to the contemporary period. The authors use colorful photography to illustrate the jewelry and arts created by Pueblos, Mesoamericans, and other Native American cultures.
North American Indian Jewelry and Adornment : From Prehistory to the Present.
Dubin, L.S., Togashi, & Jones, P. (1999)
Book, Available through SUNY Albany Library
ISBN: 9780810936898
This photography book documents the range of jewelry throughout various North American Native American cultures, from prehistory to modern day. The photographs capture Southwestern turquoise jewelry, Plains beadwork, metal bracelets from the Northeast, and a variety of other handmade jewelry. The book seeks to understand the purpose of the jewelry, whether for aesthetics, spiritual, or community practices.
Prehistoric Mosaic Jewelry of the American Southwest
Journal Article, Available Online
This article looks at the creation and use of mosaic jewelry in the American Southwest between 1200-1500 AD. The majority of the jewelry analyzed by Liu are small mosaic frog pendants. Liu explains the significance of frogs in Kinishba and Mogollan cultures. The frogs signify natural processes and symbolism such as fertility, rain, and transformation. Frog pendants were also found in various South American indigenous cultures, and Liu compares the representations between the Southwestern and South American cultures.