Black Hills Gold
Black Hills Gold jewellery would have been unknown to the pirates of old, it's a relatively new innovation, yet has rapidly become extremely popular in the US. The area is also popular with tourists, not least because of the nearby Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
What Is Black Hills Gold?
The term Black Hills Gold refers - somewhat confusingly - to both the origin and style of a piece of jewelry. It originated during the gold rushes of the late 19th century.
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Origin
The area now known as the South Dakota and northeastern Wyoming Black Hills region had for centuries been occupied by the Sioux native Americans. Their name for it was Paha Sapa which literally means "hills that are black". The tree covered hillsides did indeed appear black when seen from a distance.It was initially planned for the region to become part of the Great Sioux Reservation however before that could come into effect gold was discovered there in 1874. Neither the Sioux nor the US government were prepared to give up the Hills and treaty negotiations collapsed when the US officially opened the region to gold hunters and miners.
Today the term Black Hills Gold Jewelry is protected in the US to ensure that it really does originate from that region.
Style
Today you can buy Black Hills Gold jewelry in a huge range of products including rings, pendants and earrings. Different manufacturers have their own designs, however there is one particular style that is considered distinctive of the region. This involves grapes and vine leaves in multiple types of gold, usually yellow, pink and green colours.There is a legend that this design was first created by a Frenchman who had travelled to Dakota as part of the gold rush. Whilst out hunting for gold he fell asleep and dreamed of his native France and the vineyards there, a dream that inspired him to create the now classic style associated with jewelry from the Black Hills. How much of that story is history and how much marketing is unknown to me.
ANother popular design you can buy today incorporates the hummingbird.
Many producers today still sell the traditional vine-based styles of Black Hills gold, however you can also buy a huge range of different designs. Many products on the market also incorporate other metals such as silver and gemstones.
External Links:
Black Hills National Forest