Frances Jones — Navajo/Diné Silversmith
Navajo (Diné) silversmith. Profiled in Mark Bahti’s Silver + Stone (2007).
Frances Jones, a Navajo jeweler known for sand-cast work, was profiled with her son George in Mark Bahti's Silver + Stone (2007).
The Mark
Recorded mark: FJ, in use since 1970; her son George also signs FJ on pieces he makes from her designs (Bahti (2007, p. 71); Hougart (2022)).
Hougart (2022) also lists yei necklaces among her documented work.
From the Library: Bahti, Silver + Stone: Profiles of American Indian Jewelers (2007)
A 2007 profile, reviewed and corrected by the artists themselves before publication. Anything described as current describes 2006-2007, not today.
Frances Jones told Bahti (2007):
“I just do the work and sell it. They probably don't know who Frances Jones is.”
— Bahti (2007), p. 70 [1]
According to Bahti (2007, p. 70), she was born in 1943 at Fort Wingate, New Mexico; her father, Fred Begay, was a silversmith from Manuelito Canyon who worked for Dean Kirk and never signed his work. [1]
Bahti (2007, p. 70) reported that she started sand-casting jewelry at fourteen or fifteen, after helping her father with his work. [1]
According to Bahti (2007, p. 71), many of her cast figures came down from her father, who carved them. [1]
Bahti (2007, p. 71) reported that she refused offers to mass-produce her work under her name for royalties, because buyers might not be told it was machine-made. [1]
According to Bahti (2007, p. 71), she signed her work FJ, a hallmark she had used since 1970. [1]
Family in the directory: George Jones
Sources
- Bahti, Mark. Silver + Stone: Profiles of American Indian Jewelers. Tucson: Rio Nuevo Publishers, 2007. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 2007.
- Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing, 2022. Cited for the recorded hallmark.
Know more about Frances? Contact T.Skies.
This profile is maintained in support of Native American silversmiths and is compiled from published sources, cited above. See something inaccurate, or want to add to it? Contact us.