About Us
Joseph Begay is a member of the Ramah Navajo Tribe located in the west central part of New Mexico. He learned the art of carving stones from his friend Jeff Lewis an entrepreneur in the fetish business. The lucrative aspect of the business played a key role in his becoming of an fine artisan. It is his primary source of income to support his family.
Joseph works with natural material found through out the southwest and the world. The material that he primarily carves from are: alabaster, serpentine, belgium, marble, Picasso marble. white marble, dolomite, honey calcite, turquoise, sillionite and sodalite. His distinctive carving includes animal life-like representations of bears, turtles, eagles, horses, buffalos, and domestic animals. His carvings are enhanced by either a solid or multi-colored inlay heart-line or a offering prayer bundle; containing arrowhead, macaw feathers and heshi which he places on the back of his carvings.
Joseph is proud and honored to be artistically gifted with this special talent. He is also extremely enthusiastic about sharing his carvings with all who respect and appreciate his artistic abilites and his cultural background. His trademark signature is JB.
The southwestern Indian has made and used fetish is an object in the form of a living thing made of any material usually attractive and unattractive. In archeological sites dating will over 1,000 fetishes are being found that equal surpass some of the best carvings beings done today.
The Navajo of course make their own fetishes and carvings they also barter from the Zunis figures of horses, cattle, sheep, or goats in the belief that these amulets will help keep their flock free from disease and insure propagation. Also the most prevalent belief is that the power is supposed to reside in the spirit dwelling within tthe fetishes rather than the fetishes itself. Fetishes, amulets, and talisman are related objects and people seem to have different meaning for each but the feelings and beliefs behind all of them is related. Not only the Indians, but people all over the world since the beginning of time, have made and used fetishes. The belief in them and the use of them is still very much alive. Many of the world is most intelligent and successful people carry a favorite talisman with them at all times and are genuinely frightened if it is lost.