Navajo Bracelet by Anna Begay; Hallmarked AB

ca. 1980

Size: 5 1/4" length + 1 3/8" gap

With 3 floral motif each with 4 turquoise settings

Excellent Condition

Anna Begay is a Navajo (Diné) silversmith and jewelry artist, born August 27, 1954, in Kykotsmovi, Arizona. Active from the 1970s to the present, she is known for her silver jewelry featuring cement castings, stabilized turquoise settings, and intricate designs, as well as sculptures. The daughter of Elsie Yazzie Begay, a weaver, and Russel A. Begay, a sandcast jeweler, Anna learned silversmithing by observing her father, who crafted horse bridle ornaments. She has stated that jewelry-making may be "in our blood," finding joy and focus in creating pieces with positive intentions for others (Schaaf, 2003:72). Her work, often signed with a stamped uppercase "AB" or a horizontal "B" above an "A," includes rings, pendants, bracelets, and bolo ties, frequently incorporating materials like Sleeping Beauty turquoise, spiny oyster, black onyx, and mother of pearl. Notable pieces include a 1980s Sleeping Beauty turquoise ring and a vintage sterling silver cuff with turquoise and black onyx.