About Us
At Perry Null Trading, we have been celebrating the culture and craftsmanship of Native Americans since 1939. That is when the post was first opened by Tobe Turpen Sr. and he began to buy and sell Native American jewelry and art.
All of the jewelry and art we sell is handmade by Navajo, Hopi, Zuni and other Native American artisans and craftspeople. Each piece we sell has a story to tell. Some stories tell of the artist who crafted the piece, others tell of the journey it’s taken and some stories tell us much more about the life of Native Americans past, present and future.
People travel from across the state, throughout the country, and around the world to visit our Trading Post in Gallup, New Mexico for authentic Native American jewelry, arts and crafts. Our collection is also available online via our website to browse and buy 24/7 from anywhere in the world.
Our knowledgeable staff is dedicated to building long-term relationships with our customers. We will help you find the perfect addition for your collection, build a new collection and most importantly – learn more about the history, art and culture of Native Americans.
We’re always happy to answer any questions you have, please contact us and we’ll reply in a timely manner.
About Our Founder
Perry Null is doing what he loves – trading with the area’s Native American People and meeting customers from all over the world. He began learning the trade in 1970 when he started buying and selling jewelry from Native American silversmiths. His life has been shaped by the many different experiences and people he has met over the last four decades running Perry Null Trading.
When Perry first started, he was fortunate to meet some legendary Native American silversmiths that also taught him some valuable lessons about the trading business. Navajo silversmiths Herman Charlie, Luke Begay, and Tom Claw made several things for Perry in the early years and passed along their knowledge as well.
Since that time, Perry continued to learn more about turquoise, silver, silversmithing, and Native American jewelry traditions and techniques. Over the years, he has earned a reputation as an expert in Native American jewelry and art. Perry was asked to appraise the C.G. Wallace collection, judge at the Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial, and is constantly called upon to answer questions and appraise handmade Native American art and crafts.
Being a trader during the 1970s and 1980s taught Perry more lessons about the ebbs and flows of the trading business. Movie stars began wearing Silver & Turquoise jewelry in the early 1970s, creating a boom for Native American jewelry. It was difficult to keep up with the demand and it became a challenge to keep talented silversmiths, because their skills were highly sought after.
When the boom of the 1970s was slowing down, the Hunt brothers tried to corner the silver market. In 1980, an ounce of silver rose above $50, and Perry pulled jewelry out of the cases in his Trading Post to keep it from being bought just for the silver. Perry has always stayed true to his goal of preserving authentic Native American jewelry and art.
For Perry, trading is more than a business, it’s a way of life. He has been called upon to settle disputes between family members, help when a tragedy happens within a family, and when messages need to be sent among old friends or family members. This is what is required of an Indian Trader, along with being fair and trusted.
Perry knows and has dealt with many of today’s most recognized artists. During his trading days he has bought from Eddie Beyuka, Alice Quam, Hoskie Jim, Warren & Doris Ondelacy, McKee Platero, Harry Morgan, Raymond Yazzie, Marvin Toddy, and Thomas Curtis to name a few.
Like the Traders of the past Perry is always encouraging artists to try new things and constantly work to make things better. He has influenced the artists he has worked with and the people in his life. Perry is a man of faith who is actively involved in his local church, and has sat on many local civic organizations to make his hometown, Gallup, New Mexico, a better place. He is an avid outdoorsman who loves the ruggedness of the Four Corners area, and is a private pilot that enjoys starting many days in the air above. With his free time, Perry likes to spend time with his wife and grandchildren.