Silver is the most popularly used metal for Native American jewelry makers. Silver adornments are, historically speaking, a relatively recent phenomenon in North America. As early as 1800, the Eastern Woodlands peoples began making jewelry. These groups included the prominent Iroquois, Delaware, and Seminole. In the Pacific Northwest and the American Southwest, Native American silver smithing did not emerge into significance until the last quarter of the nineteenth century. Early silver was hammered into thin sheets. Commercial sheet silver for jewelry making was available in the 1910s, and became much more prevalent after World War II.

Most Native American artists choose sterling silver for their pieces, whether they create jewelry in a traditional fashion, or in a fine art mode. Native American jewelry holds a special long-lasting place in the realm of jewelry artistry. It is worthwhile to seek out the places where beauty can be found.