This outstanding Necklace showcases a Tufa Cast Kingman Turquoise and Sterling Silver Pendant by Navajo artist Merle House, made in Gallup, New Mexico. House crafted the Pendant by carving a mold into tufa stone, then filling the mold with molten silver. This traditional design technique is practiced by only a few experienced artists and is very labor intensive, but the results are impressive. The finished design is imprinted with texture from the stone, producing a unique finish. The rectangular-shaped Pendant is generously sized, and has detailed geometric patterning. It has been oxidized to bring the patterns into high relief. The oval stone set in the center is Water Web Kingman Turquoise from Arizona. It is patterned with droplets of light blue mingling with the turquoise blue and has small traces of brown matrix. The Pendant Bail is also tufa cast, molded into a v-shaped circular design with patterning similar to that of the Pendant. The Pendant is a one-of-a-kind original piece, and a purchase of this Necklace includes the original Tufa Cast (which was used to make the Pendant) as confirmation of its heritage. We've paired this great Pendant with 4 strands of Blue Turquoise Nuggets from Arizona. The Nuggets are a light turquoise blue with black matrix. Some stones also display silvery pyrite. They are 7 to 9mm in dimension and of excellent quality. The Stones have been polished to a soft sheen. Between each Turquoise Nugget is a disc of 3mm Olive Shell Heishi. The Heishi slightly separates the larger Stones — allowing them to be seen from all angles — and adds design interest. At the top of the Necklace the 4 strands of Turquoise transition to 4 strands of Olive Shell Heishi, streamlining the silhouette. The Necklace is finished with Sterling Silver Rounds and Toggle Clasp and adorned with a Southwest Designs Sterling Charm. The piece weighs 180 grams and is 20-1/2 inches long plus the Pendant, which is 3-1/2 inches by 1-5/8 inches including a 7/8-inch Bail (when wearing, a vertical hang length of about 10 inches).