W. Begay Navajo Sterling Silver & Turquoise Native American Pair of Kachina Eagle Bird Sculpture Figurine. Rare Wilford Begay, Navajo Native American, pair of unique sterling silver, copper, and inlaid turquoise sculptures, representing Kachina bird figures. Exquisitely crafted with great detailing, the tallest measures 14 3/4'' in height by 5 7/8'' in diameter at the base, while the smallest one measures 12 1/4'' in height by 5 7/8'' in diameter at the base. Total weight is an impressive 105.2 troy ounces and hallmarks are shown. Wilford Begay is from the high desert area of Teec Nos Pos, Arizona. Born to the Red House Clan and for the Coyote Pass Clan, Wilford's heritage is strong in silversmithing. His great-great-grandfather, whom he knew well, was an accomplished silversmith, as is his father. Over the past five years he has won three first place awards in the Gallup Intertribal Indian Ceremonials with his distinctive and beautifully done Early Morning Kachina renditions.Educated in Lukachukai, Arizona, in the heart of the Navajo homeland, Wilford Begay was steeped in Navajo tradition and culture. Wilford made his first pair of silver earrings when he was about twelve years old, and continued dabbling in the jewelry business throughout high school and college. Although Wilford can do most anything another silversmith can do, he prefers working on Kachina dolls, which are his specialty. An Eagle Kachina was his all-time favorite piece, although the Early Morning Kachinas have won him acclaim. Wilford first sketches the patterns he will use, then he cuts the body pieces. Working on one project at a time, Wilford molds the parts by soldering them together. Then he does his inlay work, using a variety of traditional stones, including turquoise to jet. Wilford signs his work with a stamped arrowhead, usually found on the back of the kachina's head. His work is present in many prestigious collections, including that of the National Museum of the American Indian, a part of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC. His sculptures appear rarely on the market, making ours particularly noteworthy.

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