A current guide to significant people, techniques, design motifs, materials, and forms, this comprehensive encyclopedia covers Native American jewelry making from the first contact with the Europeans to the present, focusing primarily on the last 150 years of Native American jewelry making. The encyclopedia contains 350 cross-referenced entries (between 400 and 1000 words each) that conclude with lists of further reading; an introduction that details the basic history of Native American jewelry making; information on key artists, techniques, forms, materials, and motifs; and an appendix that lists U.S. and Canadian museums and cultural institutions holding significant collections or presenting important exhibits of Native American jewelry. A bibliography, an artist index, and a multitude of photographs also enrich this reference source. (BT)