J1871b Violet Nez
Sterling silver row cuff by Navajo silversmith Violet Nez. The 1 1/2” cuff has five rows of nine square cut turquoise.
5 3/4” with a 1” gap
About the artist
Violet Nez
Violet Nez
Written by Shaina Nez, Violet’s daughter
My mother, Violet H. Nez, is a silversmith and how she learned the trade is a story I hope to keep alive within my family for generations to come.
From as far back as I can remember my mother has always been in her shop. She would work endless hours and days to produce fine silver pieces. She is amazing at what she produces, and she was taught by her late father, Leo G. Harvey.
My mother began silver work when she was 12 years-old. She said some late nights she could not sleep because she could hear my grandfather working. One night, the pounding of a hammer against silver, made her get out of bed and go to my grandfather’s shop where she watched him work all the way into the morning.
“I was not taught by my father, I learned through observance,” my mother would say. “Your grandfather told me, ‘If you want to learn, you have to observe, I cannot teach you step-by-step. Use your God-given tools—your mind, eyes, hands, ears, heart and K’e.’”
My mother mastered the cluster design type of work, stamping behind each item “VN Sterling.” She did not anticipate that her work would become well-known. Learning to silversmith was not just a way to make income; it was also a way to honor and respect my grandfather, who passed in March 2010.
As my mother continued to produce jewelry, her work began to shine. Her work can be found in shops throughout Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Nevada. She has her personal contacts when she conducts business, and has remained close friends with them since. As I travel with her, she always tells me little skits about the family business or how she learned the trade.
Shaina Nez if from Lukachukai in the Navajo Nation and a graduate of Diné College.
