ABOUT VINCENT PLATERO:
Born in Albuquerque in '58 & grew up on the Navajo reservation of To'hajiilee,30 miles west.His parents/grandparents were silversmiths before him,he was taught by his Mother & still uses tools passed down to him by his ancestors & also makes his own stamps,which give his jewelry an extension of his own identity, onto the sterling.
Vincent is one Navajo artist that is high in demand & is on everyone's 'wish-list' for great Navajo jewelry! Never creating two pieces exactly alike,he is known for his very identifiable hand stamp work,that takes precision,accuracy,dexterity & a good eye to do, what he does..
There are a lot of artists that stamp,but there is no one like this artist that can do what he does, to silver.Vincent's stamping is the main focus,while others use stone & then stamp just enough to give the metal some look..He "owns" the work he does & has a very identifiable look.
ABOUT PHILANDER BEGAY:
In such a relatively short period of time,Gallup Navajo artist Philander Begay's reputation has sky rocketed for being not only a 'Master' Tufa Cast artist,but one of the finest artists out there in today's industry.He has surpassed so many of the 'bigger' names in the industry & when it comes to awards,the Heard museum knew this artist was unique & very special at what he makes,so much that he had earned at least 3~"1st place" awards with them..One was when he took home 1st place in the category of "Best in Class in Jewelry" for his amazing concho belt.
Other awards he proudly deserved winning was at Santa Fe's Indian Market,(like the Super Bowl of Native American art) & in the summer of 2017, he beat out names like Sanderson,Tsinne,plus more,at the Navajo Nations judged jury event in Gallup..
Philander is known for not only his precise,very high end tufa cast jewelry,but is known for giving us depictions of Navajo ceremonial event's that are so beautifully displayed in all the jewelry he creates.You will not only get these very pictorial pieces, (that are almost like story tellers) but the finest Navajo jewelry on the market.
His jewelry is made for the true "connoisseur",for the more higher end type jewelry collectors,who collect only the finest & who collect anything but average types & desire very "one of a kind" Native American jewelry..
I feel very proud to bring Philanders quality of jewelry to my inventory!
Federico Jimenez:
Federico was raised in Oaxaca & it was during his youth that he fell in love with antiquities,after finding a large pre-Colombian Mixtec Pectoral gold necklace in the back yard of the families house in Tututepec,Mexico. He has been a avid collector of Pre-Colombian,Vintage Taxco & Native American jewelry,as well as collecting native costumes, ever since..
He developed his love for design through the years & has grown to be one of the most collectible, Internationally recognized designers, in modern day jewelry. He takes us,where very few dare to go,by creating 'head turning' designs..He is the designer of choice to many worldly figures & celebrities..
He is known for .playing a major role in bringing to the USA,the gorgeous Dove jewelry that is known to his birthplace of Oaxaca, which is called his "Frida" line.He once sat on the board of the Millicent Rogers Museum in Taos,NM,The Autry in LA & owns a Museum in Oaxaca that hold his collection & bares his name..You can also see his collections in museums in Mexico City..
Carlos Gutierrez:
Oaxaca Mexican born"CARLOS GUTIERREZ"was born to make jewelry..He is literally the BEST jeweler I have the gift of knowing(And believe me,I know a lot!!!) He was taught by his father (who is featured in the book of "OAXACA MASTERS") who taught all his children,but Carlos was the one who took to it & got to be so good at such a young age,he was then able to support all of his family at the young age of 15 & is now 52..He is the go-to jeweler that others seek, for jewelry advise.
You will find a lot of Doves,Filigree,Devotional Art themes,Sacred Hearts,floral,Dia de los Muertos,Frida & many other spiritual & beautiful things known to Mexico in his jewelry,that influenced him to present day.
What you will get with Carlos,is 'old school',with the fact that the jewelry will be totally handmade,since he refuses to use anything made by manufactures,just like his father taught him...His jewelry cannot be made in a matter of hours,but sometimes days!He is a true professional & knows what he is doing when his comes to making anything you put in front of him..The words that stick with him the most,are words his father told him years ago"never make anything,if you can't make it perfect".And he does~~~
Don Lucas:
A TRUE Santa Fe/ Southwest favorite,you can be assured of getting a piece that is totally hand fabricated..Everything he uses within his pieces, are not bought, pre-made by manufactures,but are all done by hand.Don is widely known for his "Multi~ Colored" jewelry,always setting the bar high,by using the best gems out there.This will always be a guarantee when you buy any item of Don's..He ranks probably one of THE top Anglo southwest artists,making jewelry for over 40 years & that has Native inspired influences,being his roots are & have been for many years,in the SW..Don is definitely no beginner & is highly collectible,having his own signature,highly identifiable look,with everything he does..
ABOUT AARON:
Raised & still residing in his birthplace of Fort Defiance Arizona,Aaron wasn't always a jeweler,like so many other Navajo children, who would watch their parents,aunts,uncles make jewelry,but started out as a coal man for Chevron,turned jeweler later in life..On his down times,Aaron would sit there & draw..and draw...Mostly hummingbirds & dragonflies,which ironically turned out to be included his 'signature' style...He is totally self taught & now his children are following in his footsteps.Once you get to know Aaron's work,you will be able to identify him in a instant,since he has his own style!
ABOUT BARBOSA:
Barbosa is a family based fine jewelry company that is Santa Fe's sister city of "SAN MIGUEL de ALLENDE"MEXICO..It was created by head chief designer, Felipe Barbosa who has designed jewelry for Vanessa Swarovski,as well as Carlos Santana..Barbosa also created accessories & trophies,such as the Silver Cross for the Guanajuato International Film Festival(GIFF)..They bring us all the charm,the culture,the Folk Art beauty & all things known to Mexico.Giving us all the look we love! Please enjoy the Art & Culture they bring to the table!
ABOUT ELEANOR LARGO:
"Eleanor is a Navajo Silversmith from the Towering House(Kinya'oanii) & Salt(Ashii'i) Clan..Born in 1953,she has been doing jewelry since being a teenager..She specializes in cluster work & earrings that are typically known to the Zuni Pueblo People..What I love about her,is that it matters to her,how good & perfect her jewelry comes out..She is a true perfectionist..Beyond precise & exact,her work is so finely detailed & she ranks up there,being one of the better female silversmiths,when it comes to workmanship..Her work is very similar to the late Emma Lincoln..Poor workmanship,careless,mediocre,does not exist with anything you will get of hers..Just look at the work & you will agree..
ABOUT GENE NATON:
Navajo Gene Naton, has a habit of knowing how to choose the right stones & has an intuitive eye for the silver work,that follows..A resident of NM,Gene is definitely no beginner in the industry & is known for keeping his jewelry very traditional Navajo & is always designing the best you will find out in today's market.
His work ranks high & is very similar to the Reeve's,Hoskie's, Becenti's or the Cadman's,when it comes to keeping it traditional & never getting 'contemporary' on us!
ABOUT LEO FEENEY:
Arizona artist LEO FEENEY put the word"Glam" in high end SW jewelry..Leo is known for mixing stones,known to SW jewelry & raises the bar by putting faceted gems with them..One thing that is going to be a guarantee,is the fact that you are going to get the best turquoise,the best coral & the best in faceted colored gems..Always making it a point to use the best quality natural stones possible & consistently choosing these stones with fantastic lapidary work that are perfectly cut & polished,boosting the appearance..
Leo's work can can be found in higher end stores throughout the SW.
ABOUT ANDY CADMAN:
Navajo & Gallup NM based,Andy Cadman was born in 1966 & is a part of 'modern-day',Navajo silversmith's,that have all made their mark in the industry.Whether it's Andy's younger brother Darrell Cadman or whether it's his half brothers,the renowned award winner Sunshine Reeves & Gary Reeves..But no matter which direction these artists turned toward, these relatively young metalsmith's,actually learned much of their trade from the now deceased,David Reeves.Whether a Cadman or a Reeves,they have one thing in common & that is, a element of apprenticeship & exhibit certain similarities in their work..Andy has made a great name in this industry & is considered "collectible"..
ABOUT JOLENE BIRD:
Jolene Bird has climbed high ladders to get to the level she's at..It took years to finally achieve her own identifiable style & it has paid off,by winning every imaginable award possible,from winning numerous 1st place awards to winning 'best of show'.Knowing her well,I am always amazed,seeing her do designs that one would never think was possible & am impressed how she see's "Everything having the ability to be mosaic'd"..She has gone from taking HUGE gourds & fully mosaicing them into pieces of collectible art,to doing these one of a kind type, jewelry pieces.
She learned the art of mosaic,from her ancestry,which at that time,her parents & grandparents were doing the old Thunderbird necklaces with battery casing & LP backings & were very much know to the Santo Domingo Pueblo.Jolene is also the neice of another wonderful artist, "Mary Tafoya".
Jolene takes Pueblo Art to a whole new level,while maintaining ancient techniques.She is "Highly"collectible & is in Museums/Galleries around the USA.
ABOUT RONNIE WILLIE:
New Mexico based,Navajo Ronnie Willie makes Albuquerque his home..Known for his heavy gauge cuffs,with lots of crosses & beads of sterling,he extends his love for creating by being a sand painter,sand caster,Katchina carver,rock sculptor,wood carver,which most of these things he does more on the side,since he mainly focuses on silversmithing 5 out of 7 days a week..He makes his own stamps & other tools he uses in his jewelry,which give his work,it's own identity..He is considered one of the best in present day jewelry & its a guarantee you will be getting a piece of jewelry with only the finest,quality workmanship.