Have any questions? Please give us a call at 928-428-2560
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
A woman named Amanda Jean shared this image of Leroy Saiz's buckles. "He was a good friend of my dad's when I was a child," she told the Copper Era.
Leroy Saiz's daughter Donna Grove shared this photo of a concho belt that her father and brother Chris Saiz crafted.
In this photo contributed by Leroy Saiz Jr., the buckle his father made and wore is centered in this array of handcrafted buckles.
A bracelet made by Leroy Saiz.
The side view of a Morenci turquoise bracelet that Leroy Saiz made for his wife.
An example of one of Leroy Saiz's early cast buckles, featuring Morenci copper.
A large piece of Morenci turquoise is the centerpiece of this bracelet, the first Leroy Saiz made for his wife.
A collection of Leroy Saiz's silver work, some items made in collaboration with his son Chris Saiz.
Leroy Saiz's famous maker's mark, that earned him the name of Two Feathers on the reservation.
Former Morenci silversmith Leroy Saiz was often asked to make trophy and commemorative buckles for sports teams and individuals.
These buckles are in the personal collection of Leroy Saiz's brother, Moose.
A large piece of turquoise graces this bracelet made by Leroy Saiz.
Detail of the cuff of a LeRoy Saiz bracelet.
Leroy Saiz's brother Moose has a collection of the deceased Morenci artist's work, showcasing a wide range of styles.
A woman named Amanda Jean shared this image of Leroy Saiz's buckles. "He was a good friend of my dad's when I was a child," she told the Copper Era.
In this photo contributed by Leroy Saiz Jr., the buckle his father made and wore is centered in this array of handcrafted buckles.
A bracelet made by Leroy Saiz.
The side view of a Morenci turquoise bracelet that Leroy Saiz made for his wife.
An example of one of Leroy Saiz's early cast buckles, featuring Morenci copper.
A collection of Leroy Saiz's silver work, some items made in collaboration with his son Chris Saiz.
A large piece of turquoise graces this bracelet made by Leroy Saiz.
Detail of the cuff of a LeRoy Saiz bracelet.
Although he passed away in 2007, LeRoy Saiz lives on through the silver jewelry he crafted in Morenci.
Using bits of copper spatter, local Arizona turquoise, and hand-cut lettering and images, his style was distinctive.
When his daughter Donna Grove recently put out a call for folks who have her father’s pieces to post pictures on Facebook, the responses flooded in.
A large piece of Morenci turquoise is the centerpiece of this bracelet, the first Leroy Saiz made for his wife.
“My dad, he had so many friends. Most of what he made went to so many people in Morenci,” she said, adding her own collection is modest.
“He had another friend that was local,” Grove recalled, and the two men started doing silversmithing together. Saiz’s belt buckles were especially popular. Early-on, Saiz would have a friend cast nickel silver (an alloy comprised mainly of copper) into a unique horse-shoe shape for his early buckles.
Bisbee and Morenci turquoise grace some of Saiz’s pieces. Grove said she believes the bright copper starburst found on several buckles are spatters from the copper-pouring process.
Before copper was so valuable, “I think back in the day, they could get it from the company,” she said, recalling her father coming home with a box-full.
Leroy Saiz's brother Moose has a collection of the deceased Morenci artist's work, showcasing a wide range of styles.
Before resin became popular, Saiz used it to seal his buckles, often preserving turquoise inlay, custom lettering and silver silhouettes of animals under a clear, protective layer.
“My dad kinda developed that style,” she said.
Leroy Saiz's famous maker's mark, that earned him the name of Two Feathers on the reservation.
Sometime Saiz was called Two Feathers, as his initial, “L” on the back of his pieces looked like two feathers, she said, laughing. But what started as a hobby in his garage after work at the mine became his livelihood when he joined strikers in 1983. Selling his silver work became a full-time job to feed the family: His wife worked at the local bank.
“He was out of work for six years,” Grove said. “My dad, he supported us that way.”
Former Morenci silversmith Leroy Saiz was often asked to make trophy and commemorative buckles for sports teams and individuals.
The family of six — after an older brother died in a car accident — didn’t lose their home during the strike because they could afford rent.
“We were able to stay in the company house,” she said.
“He started way before the strike,” Grove said, “But that’s how he made money, selling jewelry to the reservation,” she said. “Even Phelps-Dodge had him make some safety awards,” she said.
In 1989, “They (Phelps-Dodge) called him back to the mine,” Grove said. “He went back kinda as a laborer,” she said, working his way back to his original position as a train mechanic.
Leroy Saiz's daughter Donna Grove shared this photo of a concho belt that her father and brother Chris Saiz crafted.
Three days before Saiz was set to retire, in 2007, after the mine had given him his years of service back, Saiz died of a heart attack. He is buried in Morenci, Groves said.
“He had 18 brothers and sisters,” Grove said. Both her grandmother and her grandfather had four children each when they met and married: together, they had 10 children, one of whom was LeRoy.
“We still have a lot of family up there,” Grove said, “[although] a lot of them left during the strike.”
These buckles are in the personal collection of Leroy Saiz's brother, Moose.
Grove, who moved from Morenci to Queen Creek six years ago said it doesn’t seem likely that Saiz’s grandchildren will take up metal-smithing anytime soon. But her brother Chris Saiz helped his father as a child and continues to craft his own pieces today, she said.
Copyright © 1998- • Eastern Arizona Courier • 301 E Highway 70, Suite A, Safford, AZ 85546 | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | The EASTERN ARIZONA COURIER is owned by Wick Communications.
Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device.
Receive the digital, interactive PDF of the newspaper in your inbox. Delivered right as the newspaper goes to print on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Receive the digital, interactive PDF of the newspaper in your inbox. Delivered right as the newspaper goes to print on Wednesdays.
Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.
Check your email for details.
Invalid password or account does not exist
Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.
An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account.
Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.
A receipt was sent to your email.