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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The horned toad or Cheii in Navajo lore is the grandfather spirit who protects the people and leads them safely. Philander created this wonderful toad out of gleaming solid 18...
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Philander is the great master of the creation of horned toad themed jewelry. The horn toad is a legend in Navajo lore. This bracelet celebrates corn for prosperity and the...
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Isiah is an up and coming force in the Native American jewelry universe. Having studied under his father for a decade he is one of the few to create masterful...
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Philander cast this beautiful ridged bracelet shank after carving the design in tufa stone. Between the ridges he cut several exquisite cabochons to expertly inlay. The stones are ultra collectible...
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$595.00
Philander selected a beautiful natural spiderweb turquoise from the elusive Number 8 turquoise mine to off set on his tufa cast ring shank. The cabochon is the signature look of...
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$1,695.00
Corn is the staff of life for indigenous peoples. Phil highlights this staple with this beautiful one of a kind bracelet. A rare and gorgeous gem grade natural Bisbee turquoise...
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$2,250.00
Isiah has created his masterpiece coral ring by cabbing 14 flawless natural oxblood corals to shape. He then inlays the bubble cuts stone to stone except for three strips of...
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$3,495.00
Phil’s imagination is abundantly displayed with this gorgeous one of a kind bracelet. A solid 18 karat gold turtle swims in the ocean above star fish at the sea floor....
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$1,950.00
This is Philander’s Art Nuevo take on the classic Buffalo Dancer motif. He has inlaid fine natural Lone Mountain turquoise, oxblood coral, lapis and black jade to perfection. A beautiful...
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$2,400.00
Philander’s spiderweb design was created by carving the web in a tufa stone. Molten silver was then poured into the stone in a lost casting for a one of a...
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$1,695.00
This is Phil and Shanibah’s corn cob design bracelet. The shank design was laboriously hand carved into a tufa stone then cast. It is remarkable how uniform the squares in...
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$1,950.00
Navajo jeweler Philander Begay tufa cast a wonderful precisely hand carved linear design for this heavy sterling silver bracelet. He then set a beautiful gem grade natural turquoise from the...
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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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