Description
Measures 4 inches long x 1.75 inches wide. This piece is done in a Tufa Cast<br>style and has inlay of the Yei be Chai in Synthetic Opal, Coral and Turquoise on<br>the front. The Yei be Chai are dancers representing the Navajo Holy people.<br>Stamped Sterling and Hand Signed on back near the top. Weighs 55.2 Grams. Native<br>American, Navajo, Southwestern Indian Jewelry.<br><br>Tufa Jewelry: Tufa is a volcanic stone which can be as dense as chalk which has<br>an organic texture. The first thing a jeweler does is examine a piece of tufa<br>for any tiny fractures. If it looks good, the tufa is cut in half and, if there<br>is a design, it is carved into the tufa. There is a pour hole carved into the<br>top and several narrow vents carved into each side. The two pieces are then<br>bound together tightly and molten silver or gold is poured through the hole at<br>the top. If there are any microscopic cracks, the tufa explodes when the metal<br>is poured in and the process has to begin again.
