Blue Gem Spirit Person

Award-winning jeweler, Michael Horse, set natural Blue Gem turquoise in the face and body of this sterling silver Spirit Person.  The turquoise is a bit more green than the photo shows. The tablita (head piece) has hand-stamped sunrises at the top.  "Michael Horse" is engraved on the back.  The pendant comes with a 20" sterling silver chain.  The body and tablita are tufa cast.  More about the process of making tufa cast jewelry below.

Size: 3" H (includes bale) x 1" W

Tufa is a volcanic stone which can be as dense as chalk which has an organic texture. The first thing a jeweler does is examine a piece of tufa for any tiny fractures.  If it looks good, the tufa is cut in half and, if there is a design, it is carved into the tufa.   There is a pour hole carved into the top and several narrow vents carved into each side.  The two pieces are then bound together tightly and molten silver or gold is poured through the hole at the top.  If there are any microscopic cracks, the tufa explodes when the metal is poured in and the process has to begin again.