Masters of Jewelry

Waddell Gallery presents jewelry in a way that is more like that of a museum than a gallery: top-notch lighting and cases, a soothing atmosphere and uncrowded shelves that allow each piece to breathe. The museum-quality level of the art is certainly a contributing factor as well.

Charles Loloma (1921-1991, Hopi), gold belt buckle set with high grade Lander Blue turquoise and inner inlay of Kingman turquoise

Now open at Waddell Gallery is a stunning collection of Native American jewelry by many of the masters of the medium. Within the new body of work is the collection of Andrea Rumley, whose 170-piece collection is filled with some of the greatest pieces ever assembled together. The gallery calls it the “collection of a lifetime.”

Artists with works now on view at the gallery include Charles Loloma, Lee Yazzie, Jesse Monongya, Larry Golsh, James Little, Harvey Begay, Darryl Dean Begay, Vernon Haskie, Raymond Yazzie, Larry Vasquez, Don Supplee, Sonwai, Jared Chavez, Herbert Taylor, Kenneth Begay and many others.

Harvey Begay (1939-2009, Navajo (Diné)), 14K gold bracelet set with high grade black web #8 turquoise

The gallery has long been known for bringing some of the highest-quality jewelry to market, and this show will further reinforce that with incredible piece after incredible piece.

In the collection is a gold belt buckle set from master jeweler Charles Loloma. The buckle is made with high-grade Lander Blue turquoise on the front. The reverse, a side only ever seen by the wearer of the belt buckle, features exquisite inlay with Kingman turquoise.

Left: Darryl Dean Begay (Navajo (Diné)), 22K gold corn pendant set with high grade Lone Mountain turquoise. Middle: Sonwai (Verma Nequatewa (Hopi)), high-grade fossil Lone Mountain necklace with gold, coral, lapis and fossil ivory accents Right: Jesse Monongya (1952-2024, Navajo (Diné))/Hopi), double-sided 18K gold necklace with eagle design on one side and hummingbird pollinating flowers on the other, made with diamonds, opal, coral, dolomite, lapis, turquoise and pearls

Another piece is Harvey Begay’s gold bracelet set with high-grade, black-web #8 turquoise. Also available is a piece by the late Jesse Monongya, a gold necklace that features an eagle design on one side representing a symbol of the Navajo people and a symbol of the nation. The reverse side features a hummingbird pollinating flowers representing new life. The piece has diamond, opal, coral, dolomite, lapis, turquoise and pearls. It was previously featured in Lois Dubin’s book Jesse Monongya: Opal Bears and Lapis Skies.

Two other works are Darryl Dean Begay’s gold corn pendant set with high-grade Lone Mountain turquoise, and an extremely rare high-grade fossil Lone Mountain necklace by Sonwai. This stunning necklace features large high-grade fossil Lone Mountain turquoise with gold, coral, lapis and fossil ivory accents. —

Now Open
Masters of Jewelry
Waddell Gallery
7144 E. Main Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
(480) 990-1004, www.waddellgallery.com