Buy Direct From Navajo Silversmith (on ebay) Our sons Christopher and Erick with Frances and Valeta Tsosie back in 1993.   I took this from an old store brochure. Erick was 19 at the time, and has doubled in age to age 38 today. Frances is the only one who has remained young. Frances Begay is a a well known Navajo silversmith. My name is Russell — and I've been married to Frances for over 40 years.   I write the auctions, and take the pictures. Frances started making jewelry in the 1950's and sold her jewelry to her grammar school teachers while attending Phoenix Indian School.   She has been making jewelry — ever since. From 1981 thru 1991 Frances sold her jewelry at the Museum of New Mexico, on the Plaza in downtown Santa Fe. In 1992 we opened a workshop/store on East Tropicana, Ave in Las Vegas, NV.   See 1993 picture above. Our son Alden,   age 41,   took over his mother's space at the Museum of NM over 20 years ago.   Alden has sold his jewelry to former vice president Al Gore. Another son, Erick ,   38,   has won several awards at the Santa Fe Indian market.   Erick now owns and operates the workshop/ store in Nevada. The Albuqueque Business Review Journal did a survey and found that over 95% of all the turquoise and silver being sold is made overseas — in Asia — and people should realize that there is very little authentic Native made jewelry being made today. Nearly all turquoise and silver jewelry today is made overseas in Asia.   Initials and Hallmarks are fraudulently used by Asian makers to convince Americans that the jewelry was made by an American Indian. This is why our Las Vegas store had always been a 'show and tell' type of workshop store — where the Las Vegas tourists could actually see the jewelry being made.   See picture below showing a sand cast belt buckle in process. Anyone concerned with authenticity of Native art should know that sellers who have the 'name only' of a Native maker, without any contact information such as telephone number and address — are more than likely selling copies of Native designs produced overseas — which they buy from wholesale jewelry stores. Making of a Sand cast Belt Buckle. We always had a sign in our window which said... "Navajo Jewelry — Made Fresh Daily" To See All My Auction Listings     — Click Here