HERBERT JOE JEWELRY 
Artist Biography
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Native Artist Herbert Joe was born in the "Four Corners" region of Arizona, Sweetwater. He grew up in a
traditional environment attending boarding school in Arizona and New Mexico. Mr. Joe graduated from Eastern
Arizona College in 1980 as well as attending Arizona State University.
Since he was eight years old he has studied the craft of jewelry making through observation in the family. He
did not have any formal training or instructions as a jeweler, yet he has produced some of the finest jewelry
and is gifted with metallurgy that is unequaled. Some of his designs and techniques have never been attempted
or produced by any artist today. One 90 year old Lapidarius from Texas commented, "I have never seen any
jewelry made like this in my whole life."
His jewelry endeavor originated in 1972 doing collaborative work with his brothers Haven-Eddie, and Manuel
Benally. Including the late Robert Yellowhorse and Stover Paul. He worked for Big Bear Indian Jewelry in
Cortez, Colorado., and Eagles Nest Trading Company in Mesa, Arizona.
From the hundreds of entries at the Arizona State Fair in 1994, Mr. Joe won, "Best of Show", a Bob Fink
service appreciation award plaque and a Blue Ribbon with an amazing ten pound Pictorial Concho Belt
depicting the story of his life and experience on the Navajo Reservation. He also won 1st Place in Contemporary
Jewelry and Blue Ribbon with his "Navajo Secrets", a sterling silver and turquoise bubble bracelet with an original
regional design.
In 1995, He won numerous awards for his work at the Heard Museum, and Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial
in Gallup, New Mexico. Multi-talented Mr. Joe has made many pieces of jewelry in sterling silver and semi-
precious stones. He is now working with 14 K Gold, Platinum, and Palladium, precious gems such as Diamonds,
Rubies, Tanzanite, and Sapphires.
In August 2006, he won 1st Place in Contemporary Jewelry competition at the 6th Annual Indigenous Peoples
Art Market Market in Mt. Pleasant,Michigan. He won with a spectacular sterling silver channel inlay bracelet
with turquoise, coral, obsidian, and dumortierite (from Finland), laced with 14 K Gold. The inside of the bracelet
honors the "Long Walk of the Navajos," in 1864. This unusual layered design of sterling silver and 14K gold
with stones has never been done. It is a copy right design by Herbert Joe.
More recent honors and awards include:
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2008 Indigenous Peoples Art Market, Soaring Eagle Casino, Mt. Pleasant, Mi.
1st Place Contemporary Jewelry.......................1st Place Traditional Jewelry
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2009 Red Earth Festival and Pow-Wow, Cox Center, Oklahoma City, OK.
2nd Place Traditional Jewelry
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
2009 Eiteljorg Museum Indian Market and Festival, Indianapolis, Indiana.
2nd Place Contemporary Jewelry.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
2010 Red Earth Festival and Pow-Wow
1st Place Diversified Art, Mixed Media
2nd Place Traditional Jewelry
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
2010 Eiteljorg Museum Indian Market, Indianapolis.
1st Place Diversified Art, Mixed Media
3rd Place Contemporary Jewelry
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
2010 Indigenous Peoples Art Market.....
1st Place, Diversified Art, Mixed Media
Mr, Joe is a member of the Indian Arts and Crafts Association.
National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
In his spare time, he enjoys painting, photography, and riding horses.
In My Own Words
"I started in the Jewelry Business in 1972, on and off, making handmade pieces that is. My set of
tools was small, making only fabrication in sterling silver in set stones. Nothing elaborate. A plain table
a buffing motor of some kind, torch, and a couple of mixed tools was common.
Tools and machines have come a long ways, jewelers now have elaborate set ups, some digital.
I have been blessed with the ultimate gift, "life" from my parents and Creator; a wonderful church and countless, holy
and spiritual people.
My work and accomplishments would not have been possible without the gracious hearts of these fine people.
Best friend Patty for first being my employer, then mentoring and working with me in the subsequent years to present.
Georgia McDermott, Jamie and the rest of McDermott family. Sally Kostusak and Robert Jones. Margaret Enid Carson
Dirkse,"Grand Ma". Larry Barnes. Joye Ella Williamson Wuest.
Sherrie Grieve for writing my biography.
Many fine collectors, customers, colleagues,and friends, too many to name. Thank you.
........And Deborah Jelinek for originating my first web-site and connecting me to the rest of the world. Thank you so much Deb.
Also little Candy and Brownie Boy for just being "there", my miniature Dachshund Kids.
Lastly, I don't mine doing repairs, I do lots of it. In sterling silver, gold, any stones. Any "not so good material ", metal,
stone can be repaired or manipulated to make a show piece.
Finally, I am but a small part of this.
May You Walk In Beauty!
traditional environment attending boarding school in Arizona and New Mexico. Mr. Joe graduated from Eastern
Arizona College in 1980 as well as attending Arizona State University.
Since he was eight years old he has studied the craft of jewelry making through observation in the family. He
did not have any formal training or instructions as a jeweler, yet he has produced some of the finest jewelry
and is gifted with metallurgy that is unequaled. Some of his designs and techniques have never been attempted
or produced by any artist today. One 90 year old Lapidarius from Texas commented, "I have never seen any
jewelry made like this in my whole life."
His jewelry endeavor originated in 1972 doing collaborative work with his brothers Haven-Eddie, and Manuel
Benally. Including the late Robert Yellowhorse and Stover Paul. He worked for Big Bear Indian Jewelry in
Cortez, Colorado., and Eagles Nest Trading Company in Mesa, Arizona.
From the hundreds of entries at the Arizona State Fair in 1994, Mr. Joe won, "Best of Show", a Bob Fink
service appreciation award plaque and a Blue Ribbon with an amazing ten pound Pictorial Concho Belt
depicting the story of his life and experience on the Navajo Reservation. He also won 1st Place in Contemporary
Jewelry and Blue Ribbon with his "Navajo Secrets", a sterling silver and turquoise bubble bracelet with an original
regional design.
In 1995, He won numerous awards for his work at the Heard Museum, and Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial
in Gallup, New Mexico. Multi-talented Mr. Joe has made many pieces of jewelry in sterling silver and semi-
precious stones. He is now working with 14 K Gold, Platinum, and Palladium, precious gems such as Diamonds,
Rubies, Tanzanite, and Sapphires.
In August 2006, he won 1st Place in Contemporary Jewelry competition at the 6th Annual Indigenous Peoples
Art Market Market in Mt. Pleasant,Michigan. He won with a spectacular sterling silver channel inlay bracelet
with turquoise, coral, obsidian, and dumortierite (from Finland), laced with 14 K Gold. The inside of the bracelet
honors the "Long Walk of the Navajos," in 1864. This unusual layered design of sterling silver and 14K gold
with stones has never been done. It is a copy right design by Herbert Joe.
More recent honors and awards include:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
2008 Indigenous Peoples Art Market, Soaring Eagle Casino, Mt. Pleasant, Mi.
1st Place Contemporary Jewelry.......................1st Place Traditional Jewelry
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
2009 Red Earth Festival and Pow-Wow, Cox Center, Oklahoma City, OK.
2nd Place Traditional Jewelry
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
2009 Eiteljorg Museum Indian Market and Festival, Indianapolis, Indiana.
2nd Place Contemporary Jewelry.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
2010 Red Earth Festival and Pow-Wow
1st Place Diversified Art, Mixed Media
2nd Place Traditional Jewelry
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
2010 Eiteljorg Museum Indian Market, Indianapolis.
1st Place Diversified Art, Mixed Media
3rd Place Contemporary Jewelry
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
2010 Indigenous Peoples Art Market.....
1st Place, Diversified Art, Mixed Media
Mr, Joe is a member of the Indian Arts and Crafts Association.
National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
In his spare time, he enjoys painting, photography, and riding horses.
In My Own Words
"I started in the Jewelry Business in 1972, on and off, making handmade pieces that is. My set of
tools was small, making only fabrication in sterling silver in set stones. Nothing elaborate. A plain table
a buffing motor of some kind, torch, and a couple of mixed tools was common.
Tools and machines have come a long ways, jewelers now have elaborate set ups, some digital.
I have been blessed with the ultimate gift, "life" from my parents and Creator; a wonderful church and countless, holy
and spiritual people.
My work and accomplishments would not have been possible without the gracious hearts of these fine people.
Best friend Patty for first being my employer, then mentoring and working with me in the subsequent years to present.
Georgia McDermott, Jamie and the rest of McDermott family. Sally Kostusak and Robert Jones. Margaret Enid Carson
Dirkse,"Grand Ma". Larry Barnes. Joye Ella Williamson Wuest.
Sherrie Grieve for writing my biography.
Many fine collectors, customers, colleagues,and friends, too many to name. Thank you.
........And Deborah Jelinek for originating my first web-site and connecting me to the rest of the world. Thank you so much Deb.
Also little Candy and Brownie Boy for just being "there", my miniature Dachshund Kids.
Lastly, I don't mine doing repairs, I do lots of it. In sterling silver, gold, any stones. Any "not so good material ", metal,
stone can be repaired or manipulated to make a show piece.
Finally, I am but a small part of this.
May You Walk In Beauty!
