JSW285 Vintage Kachina Bolo

This is a perfect example of the early chip inlay technique. This 2” x 5” sterling silver kachina has silver overlay with coral and turquoise chip inlay on a 38” braided leather strap. Ca 1960’s

Chip inlay is a method where cavities in jewelry are filled with a mixture of crushed stone, typically turquoise and coral, and epoxy resin. The piece is then polished smooth after the resin has hardened.  This technique was particularly popular in the 1960’s – 1970’s.

Navajo silversmith Tommy Singer is often credited for first using chip inlay in Native American jewelry although others have also been associated with it and many have used and still use the technique. While working with scrap turquoise chips, Tommy pioneered the technique of Chip inlay used by thousands of artists to this day. For many years Tommy and his brothers created Jewelry using the Chip inlay style.

He cut out designs in one piece of silver, soldered it on another and filled the design cutout with tiny pieces of coral and turquoise mixed with epoxy. The piece is then polished smooth after the resin has hardened.  This type of jewelry had been made before in Central America and around the world, but he took it to a new level.