Hopi Silver Overlay Eagle Dancer Pin by Weaver Selina, 4" tall x 2.5"

4" tall 2 1/2" wide, 

ca. 1975

Hopi overlay is a distinct Native American silversmithing technique developed in the late 1930s/1940s, featuring two sterling silver layers. The top layer has a hand-cut, intricate design, which is soldered onto a bottom layer that is oxidized (blackened) and textured to create high contrast, resulting in a matte background with a polished foreground.

Hopi jeweler Weaver Selina (b. 1944) began his career in 1967 working and studying at the Hopicrafts shop, learning from Bernard Dawahoya and other experienced jewelers. He is from the village of Shungopavi at Second Mesa and now has his own outlet where he sells his creations and those of other Hopi artists.

Selina is an excellent silversmith who creates fine quality jewelry. His designs are uniquely his own. They are clean and understated in a quite elegant way and are always superbly executed. Weaver learned silversmithing from some of Hopi's best during his years at Hopi Crafts.