Featured in this lot are these Navajo Diné John Begay Jr. Sterling Silver Royston Turquoise Dangle Earrings. The earrings feature a wonderfully and professionally crafted sterling silver featuring two large triangular shaped Royston turquoise cabochons. John Begay Jr. has been a major player in the contemporary jewelry world for several decades and has won top prizes in every important Native American show and exhibition. His pieces are rare. He learned silversmithing from his parents and an uncle, but much of his time was spent training himself in the basics of the craft. John Begay does not mass-produce jewelry, and puts skill and spirit into each individual piece. Navajo turquoise jewelry history began in the 1860s with silversmith Atsidi Sani, blending indigenous turquoise reverence (protection, health) with Spanish metalworking, evolving iconic pieces like the naja and squash blossom necklaces, showcasing elaborate stampwork and sandcasting, and becoming a cultural hallmark for good fortune and spiritual connection, thriving today through traditional techniques and adaptation to modern markets. The artist's hallmark is stamped on the reverse of the earrings, "JB" and "Sterling". The earrings are in very nice condition, sterling silver is nicely polished, turquoise cabochons display dramatic and stunning unique golden brown mottling. Each measures .5"W x 1.5"L, collective weight is 13gms.