Silversmith’s bench and jewelry by Manuel Naranjo  ca. 1950

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From the Railroad to Route 66: The Native American Curio Trade in New Mexico
May 18, 2008 - April 19, 2009

Now through April 19, 2009, the Wheelwright Museum presents From the Railroad to Route 66: The Native American Curio Trade in New Mexico.

Starting with the arrival of the railroad in 1880, Pueblo and Navajo artisans collaborated with non-Indian dealers to invent artifacts that had no purpose but to satisfy the demand for Indian goods. From its inception, the curio trade comprised cottage industries, retail spaces, and a vast mail-order trade, and objects were sold by the thousands.

Early in the 20th century businessmen in Denver invented “Indian style” jewelry, made with the aid of machinery. In the 1920s machine-assisted jewelry production spread to Albuquerque and Santa Fe, and hundreds of young Native American men moved to the cities to work in the curio shops. Observing a jeweler at work and obtaining a piece of Indian jewelry became an integral part of the touristic experience in New Mexico.

Production methods in the shops threatened native traditions and economies, affected the teaching of silversmithing in the Indian schools, and led to federal scrutiny of and control over shop-made jewelry. On the other hand, many young men who learned silversmithing in curio shops had successful and celebrated careers as jewelers following World War II. Many of these artists are included in the exhibition, including Mark Chee, Ambrose Roanhorse, David Taliman, and Manuel Naranjo.

The rich, complex, and controversial story of the curio trade in New Mexico is told here for the first time. It is not only a story about artifacts, but of personalities, innovations, perseverance, and ultimately the survival of traditions.

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Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian
Santa Fe, New Mexico