Navajo Silversmith Fred Peshlakai: His Life & Art

Explore the life and art of legendary Navajo silversmith Fred Peshlakai, and see how his masterful art began and evolved. Beginning with the history of the Navajo people, it follows world events impacting the American Southwest and the Navajo culture precipitating in the development of their unique expressions of art rendered with silver and stone. Nineteenth—century evolution of the art form is reviewed, shining a particular light on certain ambiguities regarding important interrelationships between its most famous figures. Fred Peshlakai hailed from one of the most recognized artistic bloodlines of his noble people. This book is the beginning catalogue of his beautiful silver artwork with hundreds of images and their individual technical and artistic expressions discussed. No longer mythical, Fred Peshlakai is shown to be one of the most, if not the most, influential Navajo artisan to impact the creation of Navajo Silver Art and his art the world—class art treasures that they truly are.