Navajo
American Southwest
2020
Sterling silver, turquoise, coral, lapis, jet, and shell
Length 32 in / 81 cm
Pendant 3 in / 7.6 cm
123.16 grams
Signed
Provenance: Private collection, Las Cruces, New Mexico
This Navajo necklace by Calvin Begay centers on a tapered pendant worked in geometric channel inlay, its abstract pattern built from turquoise, coral, lapis, jet, and shell. The inlay is set flush in a stepped, angular design over a smaller inlaid bail, framed in plain silver. The pendant hangs from a hand fabricated bar link chain, each link set with a small turquoise cabochon.
The precise, small scale inlay and the clean geometric pattern are characteristic of Begay's contemporary Navajo work. The angular design and mixed stones give the pendant a modern, graphic look set against the plain silver frame. At 32 inches with a 3 inch pendant, it is a long necklace built around the inlaid pendant and the turquoise studded chain.
Made by Calvin Begay, a Navajo jeweler born in 1965 in Gallup, New Mexico, and raised in Tohatchi, known for fine mosaic and micro inlay in silver and gold. He learned jewelry making young, from his mother and uncle, and works turquoise, coral, lapis, and shell in both traditional and contemporary Navajo styles. An award winning maker, his work is widely collected and has been featured in Southwestern art publications.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
Navajo
American Southwest
2020
Sterling silver, turquoise, coral, lapis, jet, and shell
Length 32 in / 81 cm
Pendant 3 in / 7.6 cm
123.16 grams
Signed
Provenance: Private collection, Las Cruces, New Mexico
This Navajo necklace by Calvin Begay centers on a tapered pendant worked in geometric channel inlay, its abstract pattern built from turquoise, coral, lapis, jet, and shell. The inlay is set flush in a stepped, angular design over a smaller inlaid bail, framed in plain silver. The pendant hangs from a hand fabricated bar link chain, each link set with a small turquoise cabochon.
The precise, small scale inlay and the clean geometric pattern are characteristic of Begay's contemporary Navajo work. The angular design and mixed stones give the pendant a modern, graphic look set against the plain silver frame. At 32 inches with a 3 inch pendant, it is a long necklace built around the inlaid pendant and the turquoise studded chain.
Made by Calvin Begay, a Navajo jeweler born in 1965 in Gallup, New Mexico, and raised in Tohatchi, known for fine mosaic and micro inlay in silver and gold. He learned jewelry making young, from his mother and uncle, and works turquoise, coral, lapis, and shell in both traditional and contemporary Navajo styles. An award winning maker, his work is widely collected and has been featured in Southwestern art publications.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
