Sterling Silver pendant by Navajo silversmith Mary Tom. The 2 ¼” x 2 ¼” pendant has a ¾” x 5/8” Carico Lake Turquoise cabochon. Signed with Mary Tom’s hallmark “MT”.
Jack Tom began making jewelry in 1971. In 1971 Jack also married Mary Begay. Mary began making jewelry by fabricating the beads that display Jack’s pendants. She and Jack work together, and she also creates her own unique silverwork. The pieces they create together are often signed by only one of them. Their metal work often has a sandblasted finish that compliments the mirror finish of the silver overlay. Navajo rug patterns and Anasazi patterns are incorporated in their creative silverwork.
Link Necklace #J824 sold separately @ $595.
About the artist
Mary Tom
Mary Tom is an award-winning silversmith most well-known for her gold overly on silver jewelry, impeccable execution, and the finest stones in both traditional and contemporary designs.
She began an apprenticeship with jewelry in the early 1980's. She began with simple elements of silver and beads. Throughout the last 30 years, her work has evolved tremendously. She was able to explore creating innovative jewelry. It is during this time that Mary allowed herself to evolve from the Navajo traditional style of her earliest works.
She use only the finest natural semiprecious stones, silver, and gold. She loves the combination of coral and turquoise and frequently uses spiney oyster. Always looking for new techniques to learn such as tufa casting, texture rolling (which she learned from Zuni silversmith Martin Panteah) and sandblasting to express the creative ideas in multiple ways. The sandblasting provides an alternative to the normal mirror-finish polish most silversmiths give to the back of the work.
Formerly married to Jack Tom with whom she collaborated on their beautifully executed jewelry, Jack and Mary lived on the western edge of the Navajo reservation and collaborated on cheering on their children in athletic and academic achievements. Mary was responsible for the bead making, Jack for the other components.
Jack and Mary are no longer married, but each continues to create wonderful pieces on his and her own.
