Description

This incredible cuff of sterling silver has been cast in tufa stone. Then it was inlaid with a variety of stones of turquoise and coral in a cobblestone pattern. The designs on either edge of the cuff are water symbols for rain, clouds and lightning.

This piece was carved from tufa, rock found on the Hopi reservation. Tufa-casting is considered to be one of the oldest techniques in Native American jewelry.  The process involves the use of Tufa, a light stone made of compressed volcanic ash.  The designs are hand-carved into the Tufa mold. Molten silver is then poured into the mold to create the beautiful and unique Tufa-cast jewelry.  Tufa molds commonly produce only a single piece of jewelry before the mold is unusable due to the destructive nature of molten metal. While requiring great skill and precision, Tufa stone allows an artist to be a little more creative with silver.

The inside of the beautiful cuff is filled with Hopi symbols of corn and the sun. Steve’s Hopi name is Wikivya with which he signs his pieces of jewelry along with the Sun symbol because he is of the Sun Clan. Wikivya means “Bringing back the Blessings of the successful hunt”.

Condition: Excellent – original condition – new
Provenance: Purchased from the artist