Turquoise Trail: Native American Jewelry and Culture of the Southwest
Culture is the emphasis of this stunning picture book. Foxx's ( Living Maya , Abrams, 1987) exquisite color photographs of Southwestern Indians and their environment are interspersed by a text that links the legends of Mesoamerica to contemporary indigenous beliefs. Specifically, Karasik (editor of The People of the Bat , LJ 6/15/88) relates ancient stories from the peoples of Mexico about the powers and meanings of turquoise. The history of this semiprecious stone is deftly if elliptically told as one theme in an overarching history--an approach that will disappoint those looking mainly for information on the design history of Native American jewelry of the Southwest. Dexter Cirillo's Southwestern Indian Jewelry ( LJ 12/92) offers a practical survey of developments in the craft. Though the text contains a few factual errors (e.g., Mexican Hat is in Utah, not Arizona), this fine introduction to its varying subjects is recommended for general collections.- Paula A. Baxter, NYPLCopyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.