The Friends of the ASM Collections is a group of ASM members dedicated to strengthening, preserving, and promoting the ethnological collections at the Arizona State Museum. Funds raised by the Friends allow curators to make strategic purchases that enhance and preserve the ethnological collections.
Help us make more purchases with your donation to the Friends today! Give now.
2026-27 Purchases
Cuff with avanyu motif by Edison Cummings, Diné
Tufa-cast, sterling silver cuff inlaid with rare, Black Widow spiderweb turquoise, Pilot Mountain turquoise, Mediterranean oxblood coral, jasper, black jade, and ebony, and adorned with droplets of solid, 14 karat gold.
Sterling silver cuff by J.J. Otero, Diné/Hopi
Heavy gauge stamped cuff with bezel-mounted Blue Moon turquoise.
Sterling silver bracelet/cuff by Veronica Benally, Diné
Cobble inlay using spiny oyster and turquoise.
Sterling silver bracelet/cuff by Alvin Yellowhorse, Diné
Tufa cast with intricate mosaic inlay of onyx, coral, turquoise, lapis lazuli, sugilite, and shell.
2025-26 Purchases
Silver seed pot by Mark Calladitto, Diné
Sterling silver overlay with turquoise and coral.
Bluebird's Tidings by Ray Tsalate, A:shiwi
Faceted Tibetan turquoise, garnet, sapphire, and lapis lazuli beads. Pendant is a carved lapis lazuli bird on an ironwood perch. The bird is inlaid with turquoise, coral, and serpentine. The perch is adorned with carved serpentine leaves, as well as pink mussel shell, abalone, and gold lip shell blossoms. The metal elements are sterling silver.
Silver seed pot by Darryl Dean Begay, Diné
Tufa cast, appliqué, with turquoise insets.
Bracelet/cuff by Jennifer Curtis, Diné
Heavy-gauge, sterling silver, split-shank bracelet inset with Turquoise Mountain spiderweb turquoise.
Turquoise heishi necklace by Piki Wadsworth, Hopi
Hand-shaped, hand-cut, hand-drilled, and hand-polished beads of high-grade natural Fox turquoise, white shell, and sterling silver. Hand-fabricated and soldered cones, hook, and chain.
Double-sided earrings by Carl and Irene Clark, Diné
Steling silver with double-sided micro-inlay or "micro-fine intarsia."