| Ethnic jewelry is as unique as you are. Humans all | | | | The Chinese Ming Knot symbolizes cause and effect. |
| over the world have worn jewelry throughout the | | | | And, most of us know the crow's foot as the Peace |
| ages. An unusual ethnic piece worn with a simple tee | | | | Symbol. |
| shirt and pair of jeans brings a completely different | | | | Some ethnic pieces are created to be worn as a |
| perspective to your own unique style. An ethnic | | | | talisman to provide protection or good fortune or |
| piece worn with a skirt and blouse makes a | | | | other benefits to the person wearing the jewelry. An |
| memorable fashion statement. | | | | example of a talisman piece is the traditional African |
| Ethnic jewelry is an expression of the individual's | | | | elephant hair bracelet. This bracelet is said to protect |
| creativity filtered through tradition and culture. The | | | | the wearer. The Scarab was worn in ancient Egypt |
| technique is usually passed from hand to hand | | | | for energy, courage and protection. |
| through a culture and the pieces are often created | | | | Some ethnic jewelry is helping the cultures that |
| of local materials. Ethnic jewelry is frequently symbolic | | | | created it. The Bead for Life project in Africa helps |
| relating to either the culture, the religion, the local | | | | the Ugandan women reach out of poverty and |
| industry or family relationships. Some ethnic jewelry is | | | | provide for their children by making beautiful paper |
| a talisman or worn to bring a certain outcome such | | | | beads. They recycle magazines by cutting long thin |
| as good fortune, strength, protection or courage. | | | | triangles and rolling them into paper beads. These |
| Ethnic can be either contemporary or rare antique | | | | beads are then chosen for color coordination and |
| jewelry. Some pieces have great value and are great | | | | strung into necklaces and bracelets. |
| investments. An example of this is the old pawn | | | | Caring for ethnic pieces is different from caring for |
| native American pieces available as signed pieces by | | | | contemporary jewelry. Many of the materials are not |
| the artisans who created them. With modernization in | | | | waterproof or stable in a cleaning solution, so cleaning |
| the far flung regions of the world, some of the | | | | can damage them. Some of them are made of wood |
| techniques used by certain tribes or ethnic groups is | | | | or seeds and plant oils, not mineral based oils can be |
| dying out and as this happens, these pieces become | | | | helpful in protecting and preserving them. If jewelry |
| even more collectible. The turquoise found in some of | | | | made of plant materials is shipped from outside the |
| the older native American jewelry is rare in itself | | | | country it may have been sprayed with insecticide or |
| because it comes from mines that have been closed | | | | other materials that can cause allergies. |
| to commercial mining, which makes these pieces quite | | | | Imagine how a Chinese Cinnabar bracelet, a Navajo |
| valuable. | | | | squash blossom or hand carved scarab earrings can |
| You can find symbolism in many different jewelry | | | | accent your basic wardrobe pieces with an |
| pieces. The Ankh is the Egyptian symbol of life. The | | | | expression of your own unique personality and style. |
| Celtic Cross symbolizes the universe cut in quarters. | | | | |