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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$950.00
Philander’s unique vision and incomparable talent in carving tufa stone is evident in the creation of this fine bracelet. The waterbird design is his Art Nuevo interpretation of a pattern...
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Philander Begay Darling Darlene Turquoise and Coral 18K Gold Over Tufa Cast Sterling Silver Bracelet
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Philander’s creativity is evident in this marvelous bracelet design. He has cast a bracelet shank carved from tufa stone with wetlands at either end, the slim reeds below with a...
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$3,650.00
This wide thick bracelet shank was carved into tufa stone and cast all by hand. The design is the desert with a mountain range in the background. Phil then cast...
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$4,250.00
This fabulous lizard ring was created by carving the intricate design into tufa stone. Notice the beauty of the long swirling tail and the intricacy of the claws clinging tightly...
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$1,495.00
Phil is renowned for his spider designs, complex and intricate yet warm and wearable. The thick bracelet shank was created by hand carving the spiderweb into tufa stone and then...
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$3,650.00
Philander has carved this marvelous dragonfly by hand into tufa stone. Next he melts solid 18 Karat gold and pours it into the mold. The long strip is cooled and...
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When the Navajo twin warriors encountered a hostile giant and were near death from the giant’s blows, one of the warriors on the ground found a horned toad. He placed...
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The horned toad is a central figure in Navajo lore. When one is met up with it is offered corn meal and a prayer for many believe that the horned...
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$1,295.00
Philander has carved this striking pendant out of cuttlefish bone. The bone leaves beautiful curved ridges on the surface of the casting. It is cast to leave a tapering opening...
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$1,695.00
Sensuous in design with a dramatic curved shank, this dynamic and exciting bracelet is visually stunning. The fabulous heavy shank was carved out of tufa stone and cast. The top...
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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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