Jewelry by Michael Horse

Award-winning Yaqui jeweler, Michael Horse, set a diamond of natural Red Mountain turquoise into this sterling silver tufa cast ring.  The band is wider in the front than the back and has a good weight.  Made to last generations!  "Michael Horse" is engraved inside the band.  More about the process of tufa cast jewelry below.

Size: 11

Tufa is a volcanic stone which can be as dense as chalk which has an organic texture. The first thing a jeweler does is examine a piece of tufa for any tiny fractures.  If it looks good, the tufa is cut in half and, if there is a design, it is carved into the tufa.   There is a pour hole carved into the top and several narrow vents carved into each side.  The two pieces are then bound together tightly and molten silver or gold is poured through the hole at the top.  If there are any microscopic cracks, the tufa explodes when the metal is poured in and the process has to begin again. 

We just don't see large natural Kingman turquoise nuggets like much anymore!  Award-winning jeweler, artist, and actor, Michael Horse set the turquoise in sterling silver in an old style setting which has a leaf with hand-stamped details along with repousse elements, and nestled cones with eight domes cupping the stone setting.  The vintage sterling silver beads are Navajo handmade and include melon shell beads that we also don't see much anymore.  Eight Natural Kingman turquoise beads are interspersed with the silver beads above the pendant.  The beads end in sterling silver tubes and a hook and eye clasp made by Michael. What a beauty!

Size: 21" Long - Pendant 3.125" H (includes bale attached to beads) x 2.125" W

Award-winning Yaqui jeweler, artist, and actor, Michael Horse, went through all of the beads he has been saving for decades to make this graceful necklace.  The primary beads are natural red coral followed by various colors of natural stones include Kingman turquoise, sugilite, salmon coral, and opal. The beads end in sterling silver cones, vintage melon beads, and a hook and eye clasp.

Size: 29.5" Long

Award-winning jeweler, artist, and actor, Michael Horse went through all of the beads he has been saving for decades.  He strung thirteen natural turquoise polished nuggets with a variety of vintage, handmade Navajo pearls (sterling silver beads).  They end in sterling silver tips and a hook and eye clasp, handmade by Michael.

Size: 26.25" Long - Largest nugget 1.125" L x .625" W - Largest silver bead .5" W

Award-winning jeweler, artist, and actor, Michael Horse strung beads to create this boldly elegant necklace.  The stone beads, all natural, include lapis, natural turquoise from many mines, salmon coral, sugilite, and red coral. The sterling silver tips and hook and eye clasp are handmade by Michael.

Size: 24.5" Long - Lapis beads 1.75" L x .5" Wide

Award-winning Yaqui jeweler, artist, and actor, Michael Horse, created this necklace using red coral beads which surround a purple sugilite bead.  The red coral ends in handmade sterling silver caps and hook and eye clasp.  

Size: 20.5" Long - Beads .125" Diameter

Award-winning Yaqui jeweler Michael Horse  has done it again!  He set a  natural Bisbee Turquoise weighing 39 carats in a 14kt gold bezel on heavy gage sterling silver.  He textured the silver by pounding it on a river rock from the river he lives near.  Michael inscribed his name inside the bracelet. This is definitely an heirloom piece.

About Bisbee Turquoise: Bisbee turquoise is some of the most highly valued and sought after turquoise in the world and only comes from one place in Arizona. The Bisbee turquoise mine was closed in 1974.

Size: 6.5" Long wit 1.125" Opening x 1.25" W - Stone 1.25" H x 1.125" W 

This sterling silver Dancing Sunface Katsina is truly a masterpiece by Michael Horse.  Around the face are seventeen detailed feathers. The face is inlaid with natural stones of turquoise (Water Web Kingman), jet, red coral, angel skin coral, sugilite, lapis, and clam shell.  Even the thin black lines and clam shell are cut by hand and inlaid.  There is an armband on each arm and a sash lays diagonally over its chest. One hand holds a rattle and the other holds a squash blossom.  A sash with stamp-work is around the top of the kilt and dangles on one side with a bottom border and additional stamp-work.  The kilt is open on the bottom with the legs and moccasins extending from the opening.  There are bells above the moccasins and the moccasins have ornaments on each side. Each piece mentioned above is fabricated by hand and soldered together. Michael engraved his name on the back.  It is on black leather braided leather which is flattened on the part that goes around the neck.

Michael says this Sunface pendant and bolo are the last two Sunface jewelry pieces he will make.

Size: 4.5" H x 1.125" W - Chain 22" long

Sunface size: 4.5" H x 1.675" L x .875" W - Tips: 2" L x .5" W - Leather bolo: 46" Long

Award-winning Yaqui jeweler, Michael Horse, set natural Blue Moon turquoise into this sterling silver tufa cast ring.  The band is made to be adjustable down half a size. Made to last generations!  "Michael Horse" is engraved inside the band.  More about the process of tufa cast jewelry below.

Size: 10 - Stone 1.125" x .875"

Tufa is a volcanic stone which can be as dense as chalk which has an organic texture. The first thing a jeweler does is examine a piece of tufa for any tiny fractures.  If it looks good, the tufa is cut in half and, if there is a design, it is carved into the tufa.   There is a pour hole carved into the top and several narrow vents carved into each side.  The two pieces are then bound together tightly and molten silver or gold is poured through the hole at the top.  If there are any microscopic cracks, the tufa explodes when the metal is poured in and the process has to begin again. 

Award-winning Yaqui jeweler, Michael Horse, set natural Blue Moon turquoise into this sterling silver tufa cast ring.  Made to last generations!  "Michael Horse" is engraved inside the band.  More about the process of tufa cast jewelry below.

Size: 12 - Stone 1/.125" x .75"

Tufa is a volcanic stone which can be as dense as chalk which has an organic texture. The first thing a jeweler does is examine a piece of tufa for any tiny fractures.  If it looks good, the tufa is cut in half and, if there is a design, it is carved into the tufa.   There is a pour hole carved into the top and several narrow vents carved into each side.  The two pieces are then bound together tightly and molten silver or gold is poured through the hole at the top.  If there are any microscopic cracks, the tufa explodes when the metal is poured in and the process has to begin again. 

Award-winning Yaqui jeweler, Michael Horse, made this 14kt ring and set natural Lone Mountain turquoise in it.  Turquoise aficionados will know that Lone Mountain turquoise is highly sought after and hard to find.  "Michael Horse" is engraved on the inside of the bad. The band is tufa cast, more about that jewelry making process below.

Size: 8.75 

Tufa is a volcanic stone which can be as dense as chalk which has an organic texture. The first thing a jeweler does is examine a piece of tufa for any tiny fractures.  If it looks good, the tufa is cut in half and, if there is a design, it is carved into the tufa.   There is a pour hole carved into the top and several narrow vents carved into each side.  The two pieces are then bound together tightly and molten silver or gold is poured through the hole at the top.  If there are any microscopic cracks, the tufa explodes when the metal is poured in and the process has to begin again. 

Award-winning jeweler, Michael Horse, set natural sky blue Kingman turquoise in the face and body of this sterling silver Spirit Person.  The tablita (head piece) has stamp-work of a cloud in the center.  "Michael Horse" is engraved on the back.  The pendant comes with a 20" sterling silver chain.  The body and tablita are tufa cast.  More about the process of making tufa cast jewelry below.

Size: 2.5" H (includes bale) x .825" W

Tufa is a volcanic stone which can be as dense as chalk which has an organic texture. The first thing a jeweler does is examine a piece of tufa for any tiny fractures.  If it looks good, the tufa is cut in half and, if there is a design, it is carved into the tufa.   There is a pour hole carved into the top and several narrow vents carved into each side.  The two pieces are then bound together tightly and molten silver or gold is poured through the hole at the top.  If there are any microscopic cracks, the tufa explodes when the metal is poured in and the process has to begin again. 

Award-winning Yaqui jeweler, Michael Horse, set this lovely shades of green natural Manassus turquoise in a 14kt gold bezel.  The tufa cast band is sterling silver and is wider in front and narrower in back.  "Michael Horse" is engraved on the inside.  More about the process of tufa cast jewelry below.

Size: 9

Tufa is a volcanic stone which can be as dense as chalk which has an organic texture. The first thing a jeweler does is examine a piece of tufa for any tiny fractures.  If it looks good, the tufa is cut in half and, if there is a design, it is carved into the tufa.   There is a pour hole carved into the top and several narrow vents carved into each side.  The two pieces are then bound together tightly and molten silver or gold is poured through the hole at the top.  If there are any microscopic cracks, the tufa explodes when the metal is poured in and the process has to begin again. 

Sixty-three carats of natural Carico Lake turquoise is set in 14kt gold by award-winning Yaqui jeweler, artist, and actor, Michael Horse.  He searched high and low for the perfect beads to string it on and chose high-grade natural Kingman turquoise.  A 14kt gold bead was strung off center.  The 14kt gold hook and eye clasp was hand fabricated by Michael.  Michael inscribed his signature on the back of the pendant.

Pendant Size: 2.5" L x 1" W x .375" D - Beads: 23.25" Long

More about Michael Horse

This sterling silver tufa cast ring by Michael Horse is set with natural Pixie turquoise.  The turquoise is a lovely shade of green and is set in 14kt gold.  "Michael Horse" is engraved on the inside.  As with all of Michael's jewelry, this is made" to last generations.

Size: 11 - Bear Paw is 1.375" H x 1 W - Band is .375" W

Tufa Jewelry: Tufa is a volcanic stone which can be as dense as chalk which has an organic texture. The first thing a jeweler does is examine a piece of tufa for any tiny fractures.  If it looks good, the tufa is cut in half and, if there is a design, it is carved into the tufa.   There is a pour hole carved into the top and several narrow vents carved into each side.  The two pieces are then bound together tightly and molten silver or gold is poured through the hole at the top.  If there are any microscopic cracks, the tufa explodes when the metal is poured in and the process has to begin again. 

This tufa cast band made by Michael Horse is set with natural Red Mountain turquoise in a 14kt gold bezel.  "Michael Horse" is engraved on the inside.  As with all of Michael's jewelry, this is made to last generations.

Size: 11, 1" wide in the front, .25' wide in the back

Tufa Jewelry: Tufa is a volcanic stone which can be as dense as chalk which has an organic texture. The first thing a jeweler does is examine a piece of tufa for any tiny fractures.  If it looks good, the tufa is cut in half and, if there is a design, it is carved into the tufa.   There is a pour hole carved into the top and several narrow vents carved into each side.  The two pieces are then bound together tightly and molten silver or gold is poured through the hole at the top.  If there are any microscopic cracks, the tufa explodes when the metal is poured in and the process has to begin again. 

This fabulous pendant with a large natural Carico Lake turquoise was made by award-winning Yaqui jeweler Michael Horse.  The sterling silver setting is beautiful with twisted wire around the bezel and delicate cut-outs around the outside.  The handmade sterling silver heavy duty chain comes with it and is 26" long.

Pendant Size: 4.25" L x 2" W

More about Michael Horse here.