Sterling Silver Navajo Earrings by G. Ramone

  

Geneva Ramone, a Navajo silversmith, was born in Crownpoint, New Mexico in 1958. She grew up on the Navajo Reservation. She began learning the art of silversmithing from her uncle, Tom Dick Ramone, at the age of fifteen. Tom Dick Ramone's method of silversmithing was very sacred to him.

He and his fellow silversmiths worked in a secluded secret place on the reservation. It was off limits to all of the children.

Geneva was interested in the art and asked her uncle to teach it to her. He began showing her how he made conchas, bracelets, rings, etc. By melting scrap silver, pounding it flat and then stamping it with his self-made stamps. As Geneva learned the art she began using fabricated silver sheets and wires but continued using some of her uncles' stamps and learned how to make her own. She has worked as a silversmith full time since 1978.

She is very versatile in her silversmithing abilities; but, her specialty is still stamp work. She is able to make beautifully-stamped designs with the many stamps that she has collected and made over the years. These earrings measure 2" long and 3/4" in width.