J1318 Vernon Begaye
Sterling silver cuff by Navajo silversmith Vernon Begaye. The 3/4" wide cuff with heavy stamping and applique has a 1/2" x 3/4" Manassa turquoise cabochon. The inside of the cuff is 5 1/4" with a 1"gap.
Manassa turquoise is known for its blue-green to blue color with a golden to brown non-webbed matrix. The King's Manassa mine is located in Manassa, Conejos County, Colorado. The site was originally mined by ancestral Pueblo people. It was rediscovered was rediscovered in the 1890's by I.P. King. It was closed for a number of years and had not been worked. Recently the mine changed hands again and they have begun to work the claim. Collectors call Manassa turquoise the Rolls Royce of turquoise.
Vernon Begaye, raised on the Navajo Reservation, comes from a family of artists. His parents, Jimmy and Ella Begaye were silversmiths. His mother is also a traditional Navajo rug weaver. He and his brothers Marco and Jason learned the art of making jewelry when they were children. Vernon blends the traditional Navajo with contemporary designs into a style of his own. He has won numerous awards for his distinctive silverwork.
About the artist
Vernon Begaye
Vernon Begaye, raised on the Navajo Reservation, comes from a family of artists. His parents, Jimmy and Ella Begaye were silversmiths. His mother is also a traditional Navajo rug weaver. He and his brothers Marco and Jason learned the art of making jewelry when they were children. He experimented merging Navajo tradition with contemporary design, continually evolving as the years passed. Now, he is making exceptional jewelry in an abstract style all his own, that is instantly recognizable and highly prized. His individual vision sets him apart from tradition while retaining the cultural origins that inspired his talent.
Navajo artist Vernon Begaye is famous for his wonderful use of eye-dazzling materials in his marvelous jewelry. He is a distinguished, Navajo silversmith whose individual vision sets him apart from tradition while retaining the cultural origins that inspired his talent.
Vernon has won numerous prizes for his work, and in 1993 was awarded a coveted, and highly competitive SWAIA Fellowship Award. His work has been included in a number of books on the subject of American Indian Art.
