Alvin & Lula Begay — Navajo Silversmith Hallmark

Biography by Mateo James

Hallmark of Alvin & Lula Begay (Navajo) — photographed by T.Skies

Alvin & Lula Begay's hallmark as photographed on an authenticated piece. © Turquoise Skies Inc.

Alvin and Lula Begay are a Navajo husband-and-wife silversmithing team who share a hallmark, working in contemporary jewelry with channel inlay, overlay, and applique techniques. Both are documented as multiple award winners.

The mark

"Alvin Begay (1950–; Navajo). Contemporary jewelry; channel inlay; overlay; reversible jewelry; applique. Shares the mark with Lula Begay. Multiple award winner. Mark: Alvin (script; inside a feather)" — Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022), p. 44. "Lula Begay (1954–; Navajo). Contemporary; channel inlay. Shares the mark with her husband Alvin Begay. [Mark: Alvin (script; inside a feather)]" — Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022), p. 51.

What is known

Alvin and Lula Begay work collaboratively and use a single shared stamp, a practice documented across several Navajo silversmithing couples in Hougart. Alvin is specifically noted as a multiple award winner. Both entries confirm channel inlay as a defining technique; Alvin's entry additionally cites overlay and applique work.

No separate entries for Alvin or Lula Begay appear in Adair 1944, Rosnek & Stacey 1976, Bedinger 1973, or Schaaf 2003 (Schaaf lists multiple Begay family members but not this specific couple).

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References

  • Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022), pp. 44, 51.