Hopi Cuff Bracelet Silver Overlay by Manuel Hoyungowa (ca. 1953–2011)

Size: 1/2" wide x 4 7/8" + 1 1/4" Gap

Fine workmanship; nicely finished.

Manuel Hoyungowa : Although he has produced some jewelry with coral and turquoise, more in the style of Navajo work, Hoyungowa is a master silversmith which is evident in his traditional Hopi silver overlay technique jewelry. Hoyungowa actually learned silver overlay technique from Preston Monongye (his uncle and another famous Hopi artisan) and the Institute Of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Private Estate Collection

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.