Native American jewelry pieces are like collectible
paintings and sculptures. They have high artistic value not only because of the
precious materials used or the hours of labor spent to make them perfect, but
also because of the inspirations and stories behind them. Native American
jewelry—especially those made by popular artists—are widely appreciated around
the world. The works of Navajo artists depict their unique culture, beliefs,
and traditions.
One of the artists that recognized for
excellently portraying Navajo culture through his works is Darryl Dean
Begay. He is from the Red Streak Extending into Water Clan and belongs in a
family of silversmiths. Ever since he began creating jewelry pieces, he has
been showing the cultural value and beauty of his heritage.
Every piece of Native American jewelry in
Darryl Dean's superlative collection is unique. But just like other famous
artists, he has a signature style and technique. If you are interested in
adding his works to your collection, here are some of the things you should
keep in mind.
Techniques
Darryl Dean Begay is a master tufa caster. He
takes time to carve intricate designs to ensure that they look life-like. Many
of his tufa cast pieces have won awards in prestigious competitions because of
the inimitable craftsmanship. Aside from tufa casting, he is also known for
Lapidary inlay and fabrication which he learned from Bobby Begay and Raymond
Yazzie.
Style
Darryl Dean calls his style Native Art
instead of Indian Art because he depicts images of landscapes, people, flowers,
dragonflies, and wildlife. These images are carved in 18kt gold or silver
metals during casting. He then incorporates semi-precious stones like turquoise,
which he gets from the most reputable turquoise suppliers in the US. You can
find a collection of Darryl's works in online jewelry stores that are
authorized to sell his pieces.
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