Alvin & Lula Begay — Navajo/Diné Silversmith Hallmark
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
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.
- Jacka, Lois Essary. Navajo Jewelry: A Legacy of Silver and Stone. Photographs by Jerry Jacka. Flagstaff: Northland Publishing, 1995. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 1995.
- Schaaf, Gregory, with Angie Yan Schaaf. American Indian Jewelry I: 1,200 Artist Biographies, ca. 1800-present. American Indian Art Series, Vol. 5. Santa Fe: CIAC Press, 2003. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 2003.
From the Library: Jacka, Navajo Jewelry: A Legacy of Silver and Stone (1995)
1995 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 1995, not today.
Lois Essary Jacka, writing in 1995:
“Alvin learned his skills from Tommy Singer in 1973, and perfected them while working for Abraham Begay and Al Joe through the years.”
— Jacka (1995), p. 98 [1]
On Lula, Jacka wrote in 1995:
“Although Lula's parents were silversmiths, and she is the niece of two noted jewelers, Tommy Singer and Betty Betoney, she didn't learn to work silver until Alvin began teaching her in 1991.”
— Jacka (1995), p. 98 [1]
According to Jacka (1995, p. 98), Alvin did the overall design and construction of each piece, while Lula cut and set the stones, did the final polishing and finishing, and braided the leather bola ties. [1]
From the Library: Schaaf, American Indian Jewelry I (2003)
2003 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2003, not today.
Schaaf (2003) described the couple's shared mark under Lula Begay's entry:
“signs with eagle feather symbol with Alvin's name in lower case script”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 77 [2]
Schaaf (2003) opened his account of Alvin Begay this way:
“For twenty years, Alvin Begay has been a rodeo champion, competing on bareback broncos in the Indian National Finals.”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 71 [2]
According to Schaaf (2003, p. 71), Alvin Begay was born about 1950, learned jewelry making from Tommy Singer in 1973, and taught his wife, Lula; his awards included a first prize at O'Odham Tash in Casa Grande, Arizona, in 1993, and the couple were noted for necklaces, bolos, bracelets and ranger sets. [2]
Schaaf (2003, p. 194) listed Alvin and Lula Begay among the associations of the Navajo silversmith Alfred Joe of Winslow. [2]
Field Notes by Mateo James
I notice this page says Schaaf (2003) has no separate entries for Alvin or Lula Begay. Schaaf does give each of them an entry, Alvin on p. 71 and Lula on p. 77, and describes the same feather mark with Alvin's name in script. I have added those entries beside the earlier note.
This profile is maintained in support of Native American silversmiths and compiled from published references. See something inaccurate, or want to add to it? Contact us.