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Navajo silversmith Leonard Nez has always done excellent work so we are always happy to be able to furnish his with excellent turquoise when we can obtain it at a reasonable price.   This buckle is set with a really fine piece of spider turquoise from the Number 8 Mine in Nevada.   Beautiful and a collector's item.   $1100.   2.25 by 3 inches and made for an 1 1/2 belt.

Robert Sorrell set this spectacular (in my opinion) piece of natural turquoise from the Pilot Mountain Mine in Nevada.   The pendant measures 2 inches across and 2.5 inches from the top of the bale.   The back is sandcast (tufa cast to be precise) as is the bezel.   Stunning.   $875.   (SOLD)

Leonard Nez fashioned a very contemporary but traditional inspired bracelet as the setting for this unusual spiderweb turquoise from the Bisbee Mine.   I've been hanging on to this stone for some time - waiting for the right silversmith and right design.   It is set in 14kt gold.   It is 1 1/8 wide.   $925.  

This spectacular pendant by Frank Patania Sr is set with some absolutely gorgeous Lone Mountain spiderweb turquoise.   1940s.   It measures 3.25 inches across and is priced at $2200.   At right is a closeup of the hallmark.

  The coming together of one of the most established collectible jewelers and one of the most collectible turquoise:   Duane Maktima and 16.5 carats of natural Landers turquoise, set in a 14 kt gold bezel.   This exquisite tour de force of Duane's silversmithing skills will fit either a 1 1/4 or 1 1/2 inch belt due to his ingenious buckle back.   The powerful bear buckle measures 3 by 2.25 inches.   $5200.

Barbara Teller Ornelas and her sister weave the finest tapestries, period.   A list of their awards and honors and recognitions would fill this page.   We are so fortunate to have just acquired one of Barbara's tour-de-force textiles.   This tapestry, based upon a First Phase Chief's blanket pattern measures just under 15 by 20 inches.   There are 14 warp thread per inch.   As for the number of weft threads per inch....I used my optivisors with the drop down magnifier and I still had trouble counting them.   I will absolutely guarantee that there are at least 90 weft threads per inch; and it could be just over 100.   Incredible work from a lovely weaver who loves her work, for whom weaving is not a job, but part of her life.

The colors on this textile were almost impossible for me to render accurately in a larger image, so I have include a close-up (inset) that is more faithful to the deep black and the rich-midnight-sky-blue-verging-into-a-hint-of-purple.   The fine red lines bordering the white are almost like dawn breaking through the blanket of the night's thunderstorm.   $2500.

A cedar and glass bentwood box by Alano Edzerza.   He is a member of the Raven Clan from the Tahltan Nation in Canada.   Born in 1981, this young artist is quite versatile, working in silver, wood, glass and prints and paintings;   he also designed the clothing the Netherlands Olympic team wore this past Olympics.   He also has the distinction of owning and operating Vancouvers only native-run First Nations gallery!   Website: www.edzerzagallery.com
Overall, this wonderful box is 14.75 inches tall and 12 inches square.   The glass is 11 inches tall an 10.75 inches square.   $3000.

This painting by the famous Navajo artist Harrrison Begay (b 1917) is from relatively early in his career: painted sometime in the 1950s.   The image area is 11 by 12.5 inches. It was originally purchased from the Navajo Guild, as you can see by the stamp on the back.   At $30 it was a pretty decent investment.   Currently it is priced at $1275.   A very lovely, classic example of his work.   And in case you were wondering: Harrison is still alive and still painting and still travelling around.   He stayed with us in Tucson a few times over the years and we've always enjoyed his company and his sense of humor.

There are certain pieces of jewelry by Sam’s grandfather and father that are signature pieces, masterful creations that stand as testament to their keen eye for design and exceptional dedication to the execution of that vision.   This is such a piece of Sam Patania's work.   Set in 22 kt gold with 18 kt gold beads and nearly 60 carats of the finest blue spiderweb turquoise from the Candelario Mine (or anywhere else, in my opinion) this is an heirloom.   Priced at   $16,000.00.