Ben Nighthorse ~ Painted Mesa Bracelets

In creating his Painted Mesa jewelry, Ben begins with four metals (the number “four” is sometimes called the sacred number of Native Americans). These metals exhibit the cardinal colors, sometimes referred to as the “Sacred Colors”, depicting the seasons, directions, winds, and sub-deities of the Great Spirit. The metals are copper (red, south), brass (yellow, east), german silver (gray or black, west), and sterling silver (white, north).
He starts with two sheets of sterling silver, drawing a design in the top sheet. The design is then cut out using a shear punch or jeweler’s saw. Next, the design holes are filled with pieces of the inlay metal (copper, brass, or german silver), which have been cut to the exact size, shape, and thickness of the design holes. These pieces are soldered into place in the top sheet of sterling silver, which is then silver-soldered onto the second sheet. The resulting piece is hand-forged into a bracelet, ring, buckle, pendant, or other piece of jewelry. The background is then textured and oxidized. Hours of filing, sanding, and polishing follow until, finally, the sand texture is achieved by stipple impact using a hand-held engraving pen. The final piece is then heated and placed in a mild sulfuric acid bath to bring out the colors of the metals and give a sand painting effect.

Wide Rock Art Bracelet

Floral I

Multiple Animals

Stars and Moons

Horses and Steps

Swirls

Storm

Butterfly

Geometric

Triangles

Pyramids

Arrows