Ric Charlie Navajo Bracelet with Turquoise Stone

Dimensions:

(1)  Total Circumference           7”                     Gap:  1.125”    Total Weight:  51 grams

(2)  Total Circumference           6.375”              Gap:  1 .125”    Total Weight:  42 grams  

The design in this bracelet illustrates Ric's ties to the land of his people; the Navajo and Monument Valley.  The top center of the bracelet depicts the all powerful Southwestern sun shining its rays across the horizon of Monument Valley below and the clouds above.

The large oval cut Turquoise cabochon measuring .625” long and .25” wide is bezel set on a stylish 90° side arm.

Ric Charlie, Navajo, is the “king” of traditional Tufa casting among Native American jewelers.  Tufa, or pumice is a lightweight and soft stone that is easily cut and shaped, but in spite of its apparent ease of effort, getting the detail of his crisp and angular designs is unbelievably difficult. Since he has to break the mold to remove the object, Ric gets only one pour from this traditional technique, thus creating a one-of-a-kind piece.  He also has perfected the secret of coloring silver by applying heat to various chemical patinas causing the silver to “color” in subtle ways.  We purchased a number of Ric’s signed pieces during the mid 1980s.  Artist biography is available here.