Spirit Person Pendant with Kingman Turquoise #1

Award-winning jeweler, Michael Horse, loves making his Spirit People pendants. They remind him of all he has to be grateful for. This sterling silver Spirit Person pendant has two natural high-quality Kingman turquoise stones set in the body and comes on an 18" sterling silver chain. Under the top stone is a necklace made of sterling silver beads. The body is tufa cast which gives it the texture (more about the process of making tufa cast jewelry below). The images on the tablita (head piece) have hand-stamped symbols.  "Michael Horse" is engraved on the back.  

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.