Bracelets in Sterling Silver and Spiny Oyster Shell

Earlier this year I had a commission through Mark Bahti’s gallery ( www.bahti.com )to make a bracelet in spiny oyster shell and sterling silver. I LOVE spiny oyster, I love all the colors it comes in purple, yellow and all the reds. I love to combine it with turquoise. To me it is old home day when I work with these materials.

As an apprentice to my dad I worked almost exclusively with turquoise and sterling. Coral and spiny on occasion and few colored stones. The shop jewelry that I was learning to make didn’t call for faceted stones so I didn’t learn how to set them until I was designing on my own. I was not a designer during  my ten year apprenticeship, I concentrated on making what my dad required and doing the best I could. I had an informal competition with dad and Dan Enos, I wanted to be as good a craftsman as they.

I loved the work, I loved being able to start and finish a piece, the sense of accomplishment is something I need. That’s why I’m no good with paper work, it never ends.

My dad would wonder out loud that if he could pile up all the pieces he had made over his career, what would the pile look like, how big would it be? That kind of permanence is how my family has always viewed our work. Since I am able to see my grandfather’s and dad’s work I know my work will be around for a long time. I design with that in mind, I want my jewelry to be enjoyed for generations.

When I get a commission to make a piece like this bracelet I usually take that opportunity to make more than one piece. I will usually buy more stones than what is required for the commission and make a couple of variations of the piece.

For the the variations of the commission piece I added vintage turquoise. I work in heavy sterling silver like the smiths of old. The weight of the piece is important to me, it has to feel right, not light. It has to last for generations.

These two bracelets are available at the Arizona Inn here in Tucson, 520-325-1541, ask for the gift shop.