Lonnie Parker
Tufa Cast Silver Turquoise Bracelet Collection

Tufa cast or tufa casting means that a design is carved into a Tufa stone.
 Tufa stone is a form of sandstone.

The design must be carved into the tufa in the mirror image of what the artist wants the finished
jewelry to look like.  When the carving is finished, molten metal is poured into the
 design. When the silver is cool the hardened piece is pulled from the cast.

  This process (at best) allows for only 2 or 3 pieces to be made before the mold losses its
detail and is useless.  Usually, one mold produces only one piece of jewelry.

It is important to note that this process is entirely different (and much more difficult and
labor intensive) then investment or spin casting.  Investment casting is a mechanical process
 that will produce an infinite number of identical castings.

Investment casting is a relatively new process that is used to mass produce.
Tufa casting is an ancient process.

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The Lonn and Lonnie Parker pieces seen below are extraordinary examples of this art form. 
The tufa mold was painstakingly carved.  Each silver piece pulled from the mold
 was then carefully detailed (removing any left over slag from the casting),
beautifully polished to a satin finish and then a fine antique patina was applied.

It is important to note too, the fine hammer work you see is from handmade dies that are
over 100 years old.  The dies are steel, usually made from old railroad spikes.

Dies like this are family heirlooms.  These dies belonged to Lonnie's Grandfather, Esitty Chischilly.
  He was a Navajo known as "Curly Hair Medicine man".

These are very high quality examples of traditional Tufa casting.The silver has been adorned with
natural, gem turquoise, some from closed Southwestern mines.

Lonnie Parker Tufa Cast and Coral Bracelet

Featuring a 3 small Deep Red Coral Gemstone

3/8" wide

for a 5 3/4" to 6" wrist
slightly adjustable

$225

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Lonnie Parker Tufa Cast and Turquoise Bracelet

Featuring a Demali Turquoise Gemstone

1 1/4" wide

for a 6" wrist
slightly adjustable

$395

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Lonnie Parker Tufa Cast and Turquoise Bracelet

Featuring a McGinnis Turquoise Gemstone

1/2" wide

for a 6 1/2" to a 6 3/4" wrist
slightly adjustable

$395

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See the entire Lonnie Parker Tufa Cast Bracelet Collection