Susan A. Point, the best-known contemporary Coast Salish female artist, engraves a silver bracelet, precision work that requires steady hands. The work platform can be moved in any direction.

This silver bracelet, depicting Raven Yel with the Sun, is attributed to an anonymous Tsimshian artist. (5 cm, MOA)
MOA = Museum of Anthropology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver

In 1972 Bill Reid created this silver killer whale on an argillite stand, copying his own 1970 masterpiece, which he had worked in gold for the traveling exhibit «The Legacy». The shape was created by means of the «lost-wax» method. (6 cm, NMM)
NMM = National Museum of Man, Ottawa

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
La «déesse des Neiges» reposait à 5.634 mètres d'altitude, sur le Pichu Pichu, l'un des trois volcans à «nom de chat» d'Arequipa. Protégés par une chape de glace et de cendres du «feu de la terre», des momies à colliers de turquoise et quarante crânes humains trépanés disposés en cercle parfait entouraient la petite idole d'or, haute de 8 centimètres. (Museo de la Universidad nacional de San Agustin, Arequipa, Pérou.)

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Cette autre petite idole féminine de la cime du Pichu Pichu, haute de 14 centimètres, est en argent. Elle était habillée de vêtements miniatures. (Museo de la Universidad nacional de San Agustin, Arequipa, Pérou.)

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Ce plat-fontaine cérémoniel en argent du culte de l'Eau provient de Andahuaylillas, aux environs du Cuzco. Devant l'aryballe sur le rebord, on distingue un petit personnage mâchant la coca, et l'abreuvoir aux lamas dont Fun est couché et l'autre sans tête. Cette très rare qocha est percée de trois orifices par où s'écoule le liquide. (Museo e Instituto de Arqueologia de la Universidad nacional del Cuzco, Pérou.)

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Ce charmant lama miniature (41 millimètres) en argent ornait une sépulture du volcan Quimal, sommet, culminant à 4303 mètres, de la cordillère de Domeyco, au Chili. (Museo de San Pedro de Atacama, Chili.)

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Très réaliste, ce couple de jorobados en argent, haut de 6 centimètres, nouis rappelle que les bossus étaient au service personnel de l'Inca et de la Coya. (Museo e Instituto de Arqueologia de la Universidad nacional del Cuzco, Pérou.)

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Souvenir de la conquête inca en Equateur, ce bracelet d'argent haut de 11cm et 10,5 centimètres, figure an Museo del Banco central de Quito, Equateur.

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Sous la longue coiffe rectangulaire des Acllas et fardée de cinabre, une «femme choisie » d'argent doré semble tendre les bras à l'Inca (23 centimètres de haut). (Museo de Oro del Perû, Lima.)

The Morococha mine produces silver, zinc, copper and lead. It is located at 4,540 m in the central Andes, near the Ticlio Pass, which connects Lima with the eastern parts of the country. - 1969

Inca silver pectoral - width 15 cm - Museo Banco Central Quito - 1976

Inca silver pectoral - width 16 cm, height 13 cm - Museo Banco Central Quito - 1976

Musicians - Inca Norteño - weight 3 g each, height 33 mm - silver, copper and gold alloy - 15th century - Brüning Lambayeque Museum - 1976

Silver vase with two heads - Inca Costeño - around 1370 - Pisco valley - height 20 cm - Regional Museum of Ica

Solid silver Inca idol (hunchback) - Cuzco region - height 6 cm - Museum 'Oro del Perú' Miguel Mujica Gallo - Lima - 1977

Inca idol from the top of the Pichu Pichu volcano (5500 m) - Height 14 cm - Museum of the National University of San Agustín, Arequipa - 1976

Silver Inca idol - Cuzco Region - height 10.5 cm - Museum 'Oro del Perú' Miguel Mujica Gallo - Lima - 1977

Solid silver Inca idol (hunchback) - Cuzco region - height 6 cm - Museum 'Oro del Perú' Miguel Mujica Gallo - Lima - 1977

Silver idol representing a woman - height 57 mm - from an Inca sanctuary at the top of the Pili volcano in Chile - 6050 m - Museo San Pedro de Atacama - 1976

Chimú-Lambayeque Culture - XII. Century - Diameter: 10 cm - Weight 25 g - Burial figure dressed with an ornamental skirt and a burial mask on the face - consists of equal parts of gold, silver and copper - cast and hammered - Museo Arqueológico Brünning - Lambayeque - 1976

Chimú breast jewellery - with 166 faces, silver figures - Origin: Lambayeque - Archaeological Museum Brünning - Lambayeque - 1976

Tumi of gold, ceremonial axe - Chimú culture - Private collection - Lima - 1969

Gold and silver cast brooch of the Chimú Lambayeque culture - hammered and embossed work - with shells and earrings in turquoise - 12th century - Height 4.5 cm, weight 7 g - Museo Arqueológico Brünning - Lambayeque - 1976

An Indian woman from the province of Neuquén. She belongs to the Araucaniens, who live on both sides of the border between Argentina and Chile. The silver jewellery worn by the women of this ethnic group is remarkable. - 1973

In the past, the gaucho wore all his wealth so decoratively strung on the wide belt: silver coins, a chiselled knife. And a name, so that no one would ignore it... - Villa María, Province Córdoba - 1973

Tuareg woman from the Dag Rali tribe in the Hoggar. Around her neck, apart from the simple necklaces, she wears a pendant of 14 silver, faceted diamonds attached to a leather base. Underneath is an amulet with geometric ornaments. It encloses a Koran verse and is typical of Berber art. - Algeria - 1966

Feminine adornment. The silver chest pendant is the jewel in a woman's outfit on her wedding day. Its composition and ornaments are always the same. Around the neck: a kind of necklace composed of cloves, whose fragrance is much appreciated by women. - Algeria - 1966

Feminine adornment. The silver chest pendant is the jewel in a woman's outfit on her wedding day. Its composition and ornaments are always the same. - Djanet - Algeria - 1962

Fadhi, the daughter of Philippon, in a festive costume - Djanet - Algeria - 1969

Foot bracelets. These silver jewels are the work of blacksmiths. Both feared and despised by the nomads and the sedentary people living in the desert, the blacksmith or malem belongs to a special caste. He masters fire and material, fashioning jewellery as well as weapons or the metal parts that make up the harness of camels. - Bardaï - Tibesti - Chad - 1967

The Morococha mine produces silver, zinc, copper and lead. It is located at 4,540 m in the central Andes, near the Ticlio Pass, which connects Lima with the eastern parts of the country. - 1969

The ‘Cerro Rico’, the ‘rich mountain’ of Potosí in Bolivia. Potosí, with its silver mines, was the source of the wealth of the colonial Viceroyalty of Peru. The coat of arms of the city, whose economic importance came to an end in the late 18th century, bore the proud motto: ‘I am the rich Potosí, treasury of the world, king of the mountains; to kings I serve as pasture.’ - Book: Picture 170 - Bolivia - 1976

An Araucanian woman wearing the characteristic silver jewellery from the Temuco region, Cautín Province, Chile. Following the conquest of the Chilean territories by Pedro de Valdivia around 1550, the warlike Araucanians had led all uprisings against foreign rule, and under their leader Lautaro, the Indigenous armies even marched on the capital after liberating the southern territories. The attack was repelled, but the heartland of the Araucanians remained de facto independent until around 1800. - Book: Picture 194 - Chile - 1973

An Araucanian woman wearing the characteristic silver headdress whilst weaving. Temuco region, Cautín Province, Chile. - Book: Picture 140 - Chile - 1973

Photo Gallery