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“The Twins”
by Ernest Benally, Navajo/Diné
Description: Sterling silver cuff inlaid with black jet, walrus tusk ivory, and Sleeping Beauty turquoise.
About this Award: Awarded to acknowledge excellence in craftsmanship, originality, design and use of materials in jewelry.
Jurors’ Comments:
White Swann: I chose this piece because of the cleanness of everything—the stone, the silver, the settings. It’s all balanced. And the texture and the colors are beautiful.
Ryan Huna Smith: What was really striking about the piece is the incorporation of the night sky. Some of the stones almost look like they have lights inside them. In addition the weight of the piece—it really has a nice solid weight. Overall I just really liked the piece; very nice.
Gerald Dawavendewa: It’s a great design. The inlay work is exceptional. Just the designs to each of the ends all the way across it. It just has a great imagery to it.
Ernest Benally
Photo by Emily Kleinkauf