Navajo Sterling Silver Buttons Group of 35

Early 20th Century

Largest - 1.4375" D, Smallest - .625" D

Hand Crafted from Sterling Silver and Stamped Geometric Designs

In Very Good Condition

Navajo sterling silver buttons are a traditional form of Native American craftsmanship, rooted in the Navajo (Diné) silversmithing tradition that began in the mid-19th century. Navajo artisans learned silversmithing from Mexican plateros around the 1850s–1860s, initially melting down coins to create items like buttons, beads, and bridle ornaments. By the 1860s, during the internment at Bosque Redondo, reports noted Navajo men crafting silver buttons, sometimes stringing them into necklaces. These buttons evolved from functional items on clothing, leggings, and moccasins (replacing earlier bone or shell buttons) into decorative pieces.