Vintage Navajo Silver and Inlay Earrings By Alvin and Lula Begay

These pretty Navajo earrings are handmade by Alvin and Lula Begay. They're big, bold, colorful and look fantastic on. To make these earrings, Alvin and Lula Begay pulled from different techniques including overlay and multi-stone mosaic inlay.

For some delicious asymmetry, one side of each earring is plain sterling silver and the other side is oxidized, textured, and overlaid with stepped and swirling motifs. The slightly off center (on purpose) hand cut stone inlay is onyx, coral and different types of turquoise. 

The overall effect is head-turning. Watch this video to see a similar pair and notice just how striking Alvin and Lula Begay's vintage earrings like these really are.

These earrings have major presence! They're not small. They measure 1 1/2" x 1 1/4". They're clips, but they're totally comfortable to wear - even if your ears are pierced (hint! hint!). The earrings are signed, and they belonged to the dear aunt of a MAJOR New York City collector. 

Alvin and Lula Begay have worked together since 1991. He does the design work and the overlay while she does the stone cutting and the inlay. Together, they do everything by hand. The way they create their jewelry says a lot about a good partnership where each person brings a particular gift and together the gifts become magic. Besides making jewelry, Alvin Begay is an All Indian Rodeo Cowboy Association award winner. Wow!