Navajo Made Tufa Cast Silver with Turquoise Pin [SOLD]

This round pin was cast with sterling silver in a tufa mold, sometimes referred to as sand cast.  Tufa casting, often erroneously referred to as sand casting, is one of the earliest techniques used by the Navajo smiths. Today, it is still accomplished in the same manner as it was 150 years ago.

We tend to think of the Diné having made and worn silver jewelry since the beginning of their time in the Southwest. Actually, they did not learn the art of silversmithing until around 1850. It is generally accepted that Atsidi Sani (Old Smith) was the first Navajo smith, and that he learned the trade from Nakai Tsosi (Thin Mexican) in 1850.

The pin has a beautiful blue turquoise cab mounted at the center and two small silver dots adjacent.  It is stamped sterling on verso and has an arrowhead logo of the maker, however, we have not yet determined the maker to whom that logo belongs.

Condition: very good condition

Recommended Reading: The Beauty of Navajo Jewelry by Theda Bassman

Provenance: from the collection of a family from Albuquerque