Carl and Irene Clark are the names to
remember when it comes to fine and intricately detailed jewelry. They are
particularly known for their micro-fine intarsia inlay pieces, which
contributed to the innovation of jewelry under that criteria. Carl descended
from Peshlakai Atsitty, one of the original Navajo smiths, and he founded the
micro-fine inlay method, which is reminiscent of the 1930s art deco school. The
technique gives Carl and Irene Clark jewelry distinctive pops of color that
blend the design into depictions of different scenes and themes, like Monument
Valley, rainbow man Yeis, and Navajo rugs. Likewise, it enables them to produce
pieces that are both stylish and luxurious.
The water symbol is a distinct theme that is
common in most pieces of
Carl and Irene Clark jewelry. It is their trademark, too, considering that
both of them are from water clans. You are likely to find their initials, ‘C’
and ‘I’ on the pieces, too. The Clarks have been making masterpieces since
1974. Carl is self-taught, and he shared his knowledge with Irene. They also
taught their late son and Irene’s brother, too.
Carl and Irene continue to work together to
create beautiful pieces by hand. They personally cut, assemble, and inlay
high-quality stones. Irene fabricates silver and gold by hand, and she does
most of the design work, too, while Carl performs tufa stone casting. They
typically stamp the inside of the back of each piece and include a depiction of
Yei, a traditional Navajo figure that represents a theme of ‘jewelry of
protection’.
In the artistic sense, the Clarks use inlay
as a means to depict an image, while the metalwork serves as the frame for that
image. Carl and Irene Clark jewelry is not like any other American or European
art deco or art nouveau style jewelry. They take pride in making their own
creations and designs based on their traditional reflections.
