Self Edge
SE Silver Bracelet w/ Buttons
- 925 Sterling Silver
- Sand Cast
- Produced by WBegay (Silversmith since 1969, Navajo)
- Fully Adjustable (Fits every wrist size)
The Silver Bracelet with Buttons is sand cast. Two
pieces of very fine stone (a soft stone named Tufa) are rubbed
together until there is a flat surface. The design for the bracelet is
carved out of one of the stones and then the two pieces are tied
together and molten silver is poured between them. The resulting
silver becomes a mold. Then they take a small wooden box and fill
it with wet sand, press the silver mold into the sand to make an
imprint, pull it and and put a flat Tufa stone on top of the box.
Again, molten silver is poured into the crack between the two and the
bracelet is cast. Many times the silversmith will smooth out the
surface of the castings, but in this case we've left it slightly
rough in some areas and shiny in others. He then bends the silver into
the shape of the bracelet using a leather mallet and a steel axle
to work it around.
The buttons are made with individual pieces of
sheet silver, first stamped and then bent to create the round effect.
The top piece (button) is made by putting small round pieces of
sheet silver on a piece of steel where the silversmith has drilled out
rounded holes. The silver is placed over the holes and pounded with a
round headed steel awl until the round piece of silver is in the shape
of a dome. He takes two of these, solders them together and adds the extra
silver on the edge, then solders the beads to the bracelet.
|
|
