Erick Begay: From The Studio...

Pre-Owned Jewelry Auctions on eBay

2012-01-08T07:11:00.000-08:00

For incredible deals check out my eBay auctions, as we are featuring some of the finest Indian Jewelry that has been pre-owned. We are offering these pieces throughout the next few weeks, so keep checking back.

Starry Morning Wins First Place at Eiteljorg Museum Show

2011-06-25T19:54:00.001-07:00

This sterling silver Buckle that is handmade by Erick Begay, entitled "Starry Morning" earned a "First Place Award" at this weekend's Eiteljorg Museum Indian Market in Indianapolis.

Erick Begay designed this piece with the inspiration of Vincent Van Gogh's famous painting of Starry Night. The buckle is appropriately named Starry Morning as the early light of the morning is considered sacred to the Navajo. The buckle incorporates the scenic mountains of Monument Valley with the background delicately swirling in the spirit of Van Gogh's Starry Night. The buckle is studded with a fine piece of #8 spiderweb turquoise.

The Eiteljorg Museum, which opened in 1989, was founded by Harrison Eiteljorg. The museum showcases Western and Native American art and cultural objects. The museum's design is also inspired by the land, people, and architecture of the American Southwest.

The Eiteljorg Museum's Indian Market event has become one of the iconic cultural events in Indianapolis. The Eiteljorg Museum brings Native artists from across the country to Indianapolis to sell their art. The market and festival includes performances from some of today's premiere Native American performers including storytellers, dancers and singers

For More information about the award winning buckle can be found on Erick's website www.ErickBegay.com

Kingman Turquoise

2009-07-16T13:31:00.001-07:00

Kingman is historically known for its turquoise. The Mineral Park Mine, in the Cerbat Mountains 14 miles northwest of Kingman, was first mined by Indians centuries before white man came to the area. It is one of the three sites of prehistoric mining localities in the state of Arizona. Mineral Park was the most extensively worked area by the Indians of the three. S.A. “Chuck” Colbaugh found a cache of stone hammers uncovered in ancient trenches and tunnels, when he had the turquoise mining concession in May of 1962. Ithaca Peak and Turquoise Mine (formally called Aztec Mountain or Aztec Peak) are the most famous of the peaks in the area containing turquoise (colbaugh.net)

On a recent trip, I spent the morning with Marty Colbaugh (owner of the Kingman Turquoise mine). At the Kingman Turquoise mine there has been a recent find of very fine natural turquoise, with "bird's eye" matrix; sometimes the matrix is called "water web." ; sometimes "spiderweb." These terms describe the markings of the turquoise, and there are subtle differences between term.

I aquired some cabochons (stones that cut and polished) and some great raw stone (stone that is straight from the ground. Keep an eye out on my website for some exciting design featuring this rare find of turquoise.

"Grandfathers" Bracelet Wins Award

2009-07-08T09:31:00.000-07:00

This sterling silver bracelet that is handmade by Erick Begay, entitled "Grandfathers" earned an "Honorable Mention Award" at last week's Eiteljorg Museum Indian Market in Indianapolis 2009.

This piece features a stunning example of Candelaria Turquoise with reddish-brown matrix. Adorning the sides of the gem are two handfabricated horned toads. The horned toad are known as "grandfathers" in Navajo tradition.

Each horned toad is inlaid with red mediterrean coral that is set with a raised "corn-row" style of inlay to emphasize the unevenness of the toad's back. The bracelet is made from old scraps of silver that has been poured into an ingot of silver, then intricately stamped and filed into a stunning piece of work.

Erick Begay Featured in New Publication

2009-07-08T08:38:00.001-07:00

Erick Begay, owner of Begay Indian Jewelry (Boulder City, Nevada), has been one of fifty artist featured in Nancy Schiffer‘s newest book “Masters of Contemporary Indian Jewelry.”

In the book there are over 50 living jewelry masters of Native American heritage are featured in this lavish new book, complete with biographical information and insight into their creations.

In the book are numerous photos of Erick's work, including selected works of rare Number 8 spiderweb turquoise, and award winning work.

Erick Begay is a Navajo jewelry artist who owns and operates his own studio/store in Boulder City, Nevada. He has won numerous awards for his work. He uses tradition techniques to make his jewelry, such as tufa casting and sandcasting. Erick Begay's online store is located at http://www.ebegay.com/