The Hawk Pendant

Award-winning Yaqui jeweler, Michael Horse, made this sterling silver, tufa cast pendant. The stone came from his collection of high-grade domestic turquoise. The stamp-work is beautiful and it comes on a 20" woven leather cord with a sterling silver lobster clasp. Signed on the back by Michael Horse. More about the process of tufa cast jewelry below.

Size: 2" x 2" 

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.