Bisbee Turquoise Silver Gold Cuff
14kt Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver, and Bisbee Turquoise Cuff By Artist Leonard Nez. This cuff features hand stamped sterling silver bezel Bisbee Turquoise cabochon with 14kt yellow gold. This cuff is a size 5.5
Native American Artist: Leonard Nez
Born in Keams Canon, Arizona, Nez met his wife Marian through his sister. It was Marian, a silversmith in her own right, who first taught Nez jewelry-making. In 1977, he made his first pieces and by 1993 he began showing his work. An avid horseman and highly skilled team roper, he divides his time between his silver work and the rodeo circuit. Fine chisel, stamp work and deeply grooved silver overlay are the hallmarks of Navajo Leonard Nez’s silver jewelry whose work is featured in the Smithsonian Institute. By combining the elements of the traditional with the contemporary in detailed scrollwork and classic feather styling, Nez’s work is distinct and recognizable. He attributes his inspiration to God and says that sometimes design ideas come to him while he is in church.
I want each piece to be better than the last. I do my own designs, the ones that speak to me. — Nez