Description
Justin Morris Navajo sterling charoite pendant. Weight and measurements in pics, no issues.
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.
All precious metals are tested and guaranteed, any Native American jewelry referred to as Silver or Sterling is guaranteed to be a minimum of 90% (coin) silver and possibly higher content. Anything marked is guaranteed to be what it‘s marked, most bracelets are photographed on a 6" wrist, rings<br>photographed on the appropriate sized finger when possible. With bracelets if the measurement is not given in the description then inside circumference is<br>shown where the metal meets the number on the the cloth tape measure.
