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Philander Begay-Navajo
Philander Begay grew up in Tuba City, Arizona near the Hopi village of Hotevilla in a family of jewelers noted for their fine one of a kind castings. Carving intricate scenes of Navajo and Pueblo life combined with fine natural turquoise, the family has created some of the most collected pieces of contemporary Native American jewelry. Philander is the brother of noted jeweler Darryl Dean, who was his mentor and teacher. Bobby and Tim Begay were early influences in his unique style, as was Kenneth Begay.
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This is Philanders amazing representation of the "yei" mask, worn at the most famous of the Navajo ceremonials. The yei wears a headdress of pine boughs with eagle feathers, sacred in prayer. The face is brightly polished with a corn plant design between the eyes. The piece is heavy and substantial as it was tufa cast with a considerable amount of sterling silver. The bolo sits on a fine thick ten ply cord with beautiful and hand made tips. The completed piece is one of a kind, signature Philander Begay.
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Philander Begay is widely recognized as one of the most innovative carvers of tufa stone jewelry. This great pendant clearly illustrates his creativity. A pueblo "koshare" or clown at a ceremonial function polices the dancers with a drum in one hand and a rattle in the other. He is naked except for his loin cloth and moccasins. He wears a headdress with corn tassels and a squash blossom around his neck. His body and face are painted with black and white stripes. The piece is heavy and substantial due to the amount of sterling used to create the piece. In short, the pendant is a perfect representation of the dancer.
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Deeply carved into a thick tufa stone, a dark mysterious Navajo deity emerges from the underworld in this heavy bracelet. Philander perfectly captures the essence of the Yeibechai in this incredible piece. Made from multiple layers of sterling silver, the bracelet is as heavy as the subject it portrays. An entire Yei is created. He dances holding rattles, a fox fur hanging down his back. A concho belt with five gem grade natural Apache Blue turquoise conchos adorns his waist. His face is masked with the classic look of the god. The mask is gem grade Apache Blue turquoise to match with a prominent whistle inlaid in the middle below the eyes. The Yei dances in the dark with the stars above him. The finished piece is path breaking and unusually one of a kind.
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Tufa cast master Philander Begay has created this gorgeous bracelet by carving an elaborate design to mimic the walls of petroglyphs he admires near his home on the vast Navajo reservation. Antelopes, mountains, hands, migration swirls and weather patterns predominate. A rare gem grade natural Easter Blue turquoise sits a bit off set in a hand chiseled bezel. The gem is deep sky blue in the lowest layer with gorgeous golden brown host rock matrix. This is the signature look from the mine and is the perfect earthy look to finish the conception of a petroglyph wall transferred to a marvelous bracelet.
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A running horse with the mountains in the back ground against a deep blue western sky. Philander Begay continues his innovative carvings in tufa stone. The stone is carved into a one of a kind design. The molten sterling silver is poured yielding a wonderful textured finish that is then deeply oxidized and polished to create the 3D effect. The piece is then precision inlaid with stunning high grade natural Morenci turquoise. The finished buckle is wearable art by a master of this fine quality medium.
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Navajo silversmith Philander Begay has created this marvelous bracelet through the use of a tufa stone that is laboriously hand carved with a unique design in each side. Molten sterling silver is poured in to create the image. The bracelet features pueblo villages towards the ends of either side of the shank. The inside of the piece exhibits complex petroglyph designs. He has selected a gorgeous rare gem grade natural Pilot Mountain turquoise to place in the center of the bracelet. The gem is blue green with vibrant reddish-brown matrix that spreads like water throughout the stone.
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Created by Navajo jeweler, Philander Begay, this marvelous bracelet was hand made by carving a precise design in tufa stone and casting molten sterling silver. The piece features an elaborate rug pattern and is set with an incredible rare gem grade natural Apache Blue spiderweb turquoise cabochon. The turquoise is a deep blue with dark chocolate brown webbing and is the perfect compliment to the quality of the piece.
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Navajo jeweler Philander Begay has created this signature bolo by precision tufa stone carving. Each detail is precisely cut in a tufa stone. Molten sterling silver is pored to create the piece. This process is labor intensive and can only be used a very limited number of times before the image is destroyed. The bolo depicts a Yeibechai with a rattle and fox skin in the hands, dressed in full regalia. The Yeibechai is the masked human dancer who participates in the healing ceremony and impersonates the Yei, the supernatural being who brings their healing abilities to medicinal gatherings.
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