ANDERSON NAVAJO CORAL Silver BRACELET & ORIGINAL TUFA! AARON ANDERSON 1 ofa KIND BRACELET & Tufa STONE Start Price USD 669.95 Current Price USD 669.95 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Tuesday, November 18, 2008 End Time Tuesday, December 16, 2008 Location Boerne, Texas See more about 'ANDERSON NAVAJO CORAL Silver BRACELET & ORIGINAL TUFA!' Description ANDERSON NAVAJO CORAL Silver BRACELET & ORIGINAL TUFA! NATIVE AMERICAN HAND MADE STERLING SILVER & NATRUAL GEMSTONES CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY AND PROVENANCE INCLUDEDTHESE ARE PICTURES OF THE ACTUAL ITEM OFFERED! THESE ARE NOT, NOT, NOT "SAMPLE" PICTURES! THEY ARE THE REAL DEAL - JUST LIKE US!5 TIME GALLUP INTER-TRIBAL CEREMONIALART SHOW WINNERMORE RIBBONS THAN HE CAN COUNT!AARON ANDERSON1 of a KIND TUFA CASTING! NAVAJO HAND MADE STERLING SILVER BRACELET NATURAL MEDITERRANEAN CORAL ARTIST SIGNED – AWARD WINNING – AARON ANDERSONONE OF A KIND! KIVA STEPS MOTIF ORIGINAL TUFA STONE INCLUDED! SUITABLE FOR FRAMING! This one of a kind Coral Bracelet was made by AARON ANDERSON, NAVAJO. Aaron Anderson comes from a long line of silver casters, so he had plenty of relatives to learn from and started working as their apprentice growing up on the reservation at Manuelito, New Mexico.His father was well known artist, Wilbur Anderson (Hallmarks of the Southwest page 20), as were all of his uncles.He is a 3rd generation silversmith.As a young boy he did the buffing work and has many scars and a couple missing finger from an altercation with a fan belt to prove it! Although he has been independently employed as a jewelry artist specializing in casting since leaving high school, for many years he would make the masters which he sold to other artist who would then make sand castings.About 5 years ago he followed his dream to make only one-of-a-kind pieces and entered his first show.To understand the hierarchy of art shows, all types of casting are in the same category for sand, tufa, or lost-wax.Because it is more difficult and more traditional, tufa casting (which is Aaron’s specialty) is considered the higher art and given more weight.The first year he was on his own, he was to self-conscious to enter the prestigious show associated with the Gallup Inter-Tribal Ceremonial Art Show.A local gallery believed in his talent to the extent that he entered some of their own pieces and paid the entry fees.And, as they say, the rest is history.Four years ago, Aaron took multiple ribbons including the First Prize in Casting.And he has received multiple ribbons including 1st prize, Best of Casting every year since!Five years and five first place ribbons is a record for the show. Something of a rebel as a young man, he has grown into a serious artist and a devoted husband and father.He has one child, a daughter named Madison.Until Madison was a year old, both he and his wife remained at home.Now, Nicole works as a bookkeeper for the Navajo Nation, and Aaron converted areas of their home for his own work.Madison goes to pre-school 3 days a week, but the other 2 she stays home with her dad.At 6ft 2in and over 200 pounds, he and his daughter make quite a darling picture, but you just do not expect such a big man to be such a gentle and loving parent!Aaron has his drawing board and casting area in the basement, and he is pictured here in his garage where he does his casting work.Tufa is porous rock made of volcanic ash used to form a casting mold. The tufa stone is cut to the desired size and shape which often resembles a brick. It is then sliced in half. Usually, a design is carved into just one of the interior sides of the tufa stone. After the carving is done, the two halves of the tufa are tightly joined. This tied together with a strip of rubber. Long ago, they used "wire". The rubber is a lot faster and better to work with. A sprue hole is carved into one end. The joined and decorated halves then become the mold. Finally, molten sterling silver is poured through the sprue hole into the mold. After the sterling silver hardens, the carved design is visible and the tufa leaves a textured surface on the metal. Jewelry such as a bracelet is cast flat and then hammered into shape. With this Aaron Anderson piece you will receive the actual Tufa Stone, hand sculpted by Mr. Anderson, to create this piece as part of your purchase.Some collectors of his work have had their Tufa Stone Framed with a small shelf below the stone so that their piece can be displayed with the stone when it is not being worn.It make not only a lovely piece of indigenous artwork but a wonderful conversation piece as well!If you do not have some one locally who can do this work, we will be happy to put you in touch with Mr. Anderson’s preferred framer who has done several of these.Please, this offer is applicable only to the purchaser of this one of a kind piece.This hand made Bracelet features 1 pear-shaped, Natural Mediterranean Coral gem This Coral gemstone is a natural gem that has not been treated or enhanced.Its color can best be described as a deep, vibrant reddish orange.The gems is truly to color of the sunset that it represents in this design based on the ancient Kiva Steps motif that replicates the outline of ancient pueblo walls. The direction that you choose to place the bracelet on your wrist determines who gets to see the sun setting over the outline of the pueblo!If you want your friends to see it, you would place the stone towards your fingers, but if you want to enjoy the view, place it away from your hand!We show you both ways that the bracelet would appear for either vantage point.This Coral is 5/8 inch wide by 3/8 inch!This high quality gem specimen was cut with the highest degree of lapidary skill.The top is slightly domed and completely smooth.This exquisite gem is securely set in a smooth sided bezel.It is important to remember that Tufa Casting pieces are a higher value even than Sand Casting, so these effects are highly desirable!The evidence of Tufa Casting is especially evident on the INSIDE of the bracelet.Sand casting leaves pock marks or inverted bursted bubbles on the inner surface; Tufa casting leaves this type of rough bubbled surface.Most artists would use a Tufa Casting stone several times, over and over until it disintegrated!The Tufa itself is expensive, and it takes hours to design and hand carve.Aaron Anderson makes ONLY ONE-of-a-KIND pieces and does not use the stone again.While this adds significantly to the cost of producing each piece of art jewelry, it ensures the value of your piece and it increases its value exponentially!The gem medallion is displayed on a solid band, open at the back of the bracelet and tapering from front to the back opening. Because you can not hold this bracelet in your hands, one of the most important questions you should have answered about a bracelet is its weight.Collectors will tell you that weight will indicate if the bracelet can properly support the weight of the gem and indicates that it is sturdy enough to retain its shape, beauty and value for generations to come. BRACELET DIMENSIONS:WIDTH OF STERLING SILVER BRACELET: At the front, by the stone: 1-7/8 inches. At the exact center of the front: 1-3/4 inches. At the back gap: 1inch. INTERIOR: 5-1/4 inches.BACK OPENING: 1-1/4 inches.LARGEST WRIST SIZE: 7-1/4 inches SMALLEST WRIST SIZE: 6-1/4 inches. GEMSTONES: NATURAL MEDITERRANEAN CORAL.MATERIALS:STERLING SILVER ONLY.ARTIST SIGNED: AARON ANDERSON, NAVAJOWEIGHT: 93.7 grams. CONDITION: EXCELLENT, PERFECT, NEW, NEVER WORN.WHY DOES WEIGHT MATTER? Gram weight is the first question a seasoned collect will ask.(And he will be very reluctant if the seller is unable or unwilling to answer this important question.)The reason for the interest is two-fold.First, Sterling Silver is sold by gram weight and determines are part of the value of the object.In other words, is there enough silver there to justify the price?Secondly, if the weight is too slight, it may not properly support the weight of the gems and could warp over time.We think you should have this information for making a wise investment decision.It only seems fair!It is too bad that not all sellers are this conscientious. Think they have something to hide. This bracelet can be adjust of any wrist size between these two measurements.Please advise if you would like me to adjust to your wrist size before shipping to you.TUFA STONE CARVING DIMENSIONS This ONE of a KIND, hand carved TUFA STONE was used to make THIS BRACELET and THIS BRACELET ONLY! LENGTH: 10-1/4 inchesWIDTH: 3-3/4 inchesTHICKNESS: 1 inch.COLOR IS PUTTY SUITABLE FOR FRAMING and DISPLAY! THIS AUCTION IS FOR BOTH ITEMS! ONE OF A KIND AARON ANDERSON BRACELET PLUS ORIGINAL TUFA STONE CASTING SCULPTURE!This one of a kind Morenci Turquoise Bracelet is artist signed, AARON A, AARON ANDERSON, NAVAJO.This is a new signature as of late 2007 if you are beginning to keep notes and records about this sky rocketing artist.Certificate of Authenticity and Provenance: This museum quality artwork is entirely new and will receive the utmost care in shipping to you and will arrive cleaned, polished, and well packed in layers of bubble wrap and crisp white tissue paper. It will be accompanied my official Certificate Authenticity and simple care and cleaning suggestions. Your unique Certificate of Authenticity will document the Native American artist by name and tribal affiliation and gemstone materials used (including only Sterling Silver), to establish and help you maintain accurate records of provenance.This Text and Photographs are copyright by frontporchtexas.com, all rights are reserved.RETURN POLICY: NO QUESTIONS ASKED! ANY REASON!: Return within 7 days of receipt, 100% refund of purchase price (not shipping) if paid with Paypal. If not paid with Paypal, restocking fee of 6% because eBay will not refund its final value fees. (Sorry, ebay rules; not ours!) Must be returned in same condition as sent. Cost of return shipping and insurance is responsibility of purchaser. Click Images to Enlarge After purchase, you will receive an email offering a variety of payment options. You can make payment immediately via Paypal. The email will also offer you to pay by mail using either personal check, money order, or certified bank funds. Payments made by check will be held for 7 business days to allow for clearance of funds. The email will also provide you with a phone number for direct credit and debit card payment, as well as a secure server for card processing. Please respond to email with payment or intentions within 3 days (via internet). Receipt of payment in full expected within 7 days. Combined Shipping: Multiple purchase can be combined within a 14 day (2 week) period for one flat-rate, shipping charge. We will insure fully at no additional charge to you. Affordable Auction Management and Image Hosting Solutions @ inkFrog view my other auctions below:   visit my entire auction showcase Place a Bid!