1930's 3 Row Ingot Silver Cuff with Fox Turquoise

This three row cuff was fabricated from ingot sheet silver using a dark old solder.  The silver raindrops are smelted as flux was unavailable to this silversmith.  The torch was probably a hand-held can model "affectionately" dubbed "the bomb".  The bezels were serrated using a wood roughing file, or "flat bastar."

Thirty six rectangular cabochons, approximately 5/16" X 3/16" were hand cut from natural, intense blue, Fox mine Nevada turquoise.  A single curved design stamp was used to decorate the sides of each of the three bands, as they taper to their joining at a terminal bar or "foot".

The best book to explain the steps in creating Zuni cluster jewelry is Oscar Branson's Indian Jewelry Making. Volume II. Look at page 48 illustrating each step to create a cluster bracelet.