Rebecca Begay is often associated with her
husband, Darryl, but she stands out as a premiere Native American jewelry
artist and designer by her own right. She aspired to be an artist at an early
age, and while her rise to fame may have been slow and steady, she is pleased
that her career continues to thrive and that she is able to create wonderful tufa
cast pieces that collectors and jewelry enthusiasts appreciate. It was Darryl
who taught her the art of tufa casting—a technique she often uses in many of
her bold and fashionable bracelets and pendants. Her Native American jewelry
designs are considered one-of-a-kind, and they are certainly highly valued by
collectors.
The tufa cast technique enables Rebecca to
create abstract and pictorial designs based on her drawings. She personally
carves everything before casting the piece. Because tufa is soft, it is
typically difficult to get multiple casts from a carving, so she makes them
individually. This means that no two pieces are exactly the same. She gets inspiration
for her art comes from her life as a Navajo, a wife, a mother, a Christian, and
an artist. Her stunning designs reflect her deep passion for her work.
The most distinctive characteristics of
Rebecca Begay pieces are the striking color details that stand out from the
intricate carvings. One great showcase of this is her lovely rare gem grade
Bisbee and Candelaria turquoise pendant, which features two types of stones set
in tufa stone that was hand carved with utmost precision. The detail is
signature Rebecca Begay, featuring floral patterns swirling around the stones. Authentic Rebecca
Begay jewelry comes with her signature or initials at the back, as well as a
certificate of authenticity to assure collectors of her tribal affiliation and
name, as well as the retail value of the piece and the materials she used to
make it.
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