John Adair wrote in his well researched book, The Navajo and Pueblo Silversmiths, published in 1944, that on Christmas Eve the natives of the Santo Domingo Pueblo make small clay objects of animals and crops to lay at the church alter to receive the blessing of Jesus so that their crops and animals will prosper. He followed, "It has been reported that the silversmiths of the pueblo place tools and bits of silver before the alter in order that their craft may be blessed..."
I have met Joe Coriz on only one brief occasion so I have little knowledge of the man, but I am very familiar with his distinctive sterling silver overly jewelry creations which frequently incorporate petroglyphic symbols and 14K gold accents as seen in the belt buckle example above.
I do not know if he places his tools at the Christmas alter, but his beautiful work does suggest that his craft is heavenly blessed.
