1970's Justin Morris Navajo Sterling Turquoise and coral pendant/necklace

Description: 1970's Justin Morris Navajo Sterling Turquoise and coral pendant/necklace. 24"
necklace, 3" x 2.25" pendant all with no issues. 74.8 grams total.

Silversmiths Justin and Irene Morris began making jewelry over 50 years ago. At
that particular time in American History many Native Americans were turning to
art to bring in extra income to support their families (particularly those
without college educations); he got the idea from his Grandpa Bitchittti. Not
surprisingly, Grandpa proved to be right. In the mid sixties, Southwestern
Indian jewelry started to make its way into mainstream America, finding its way
across Sacs of Fifth Avenue Catalogs to featured articles in Arizona Highways.
Before Justin decided to take up silver, he was a instructional aide for the
Government at Dilcon Boarding School. Morris recalls Grandpa looking out for the
livelihood of the family and notes, "the idea (for me to become a silversmith)
was all Grandpa's...the learning (however) was all self-taught."

Over the next few years, Morris began to learn and refine the skilled trait of
not only fabricating jewelry from sheets of silver and turquoise but also
learned the art of marketing. He managed to establish--over the course of 50
years--a clientele that spanned from as close as Sedona, Arizona to as far away
as Frankfort, Germany. Also over the next few years would come Justin and
Irene's children, Charles, Luskey, Calamity, and Keturah who would also take up
silversmithing. Today, the business is a family affair and Justin accredits his
success to his children's participation in the business and the support of his
wife Irene, "(Everyone) They all helped out in the shop, (the children) ever
since they were small...working together has brought us closer together." And
from the looks of it has kept them together as well.

Being in the business for over 50 years hasn't however been without its hard
times. The Morrises, for business proposes, decided rather than continue to
wholesale to retailers to take the business directly to his customers through a
market place venue. In the early 90's Justin and his family decided to start to
explore these markets. The bonus of exploring markets provided the Morrises with
the opportunity that they very rarely had--to meet collectors of his jewelry.
These markets also allowed the Morris name to take their business to a wider
range of customers, enabling them to hone business according to their customer's
needs.

Over the past years Morris has been able to instinctively, wield his business
according to seasons and market places which at times--the family unanimously
have admitted--have been a hard study. Surprisingly, the heard times, the
Morrises admit, are what measure the high points, which for them were building
the family business name. And even in the dreariest of times, which Morrises
have confessed their share, they comment, "you keep your mind on the Creator,
and keep laughter close." The both of which have propelled his business forward
in to the unknown. Today they, the Morrises, together, continue to forge into
unknowable.