J1216 Tufa Cuff
Sterling silver tufa cast cuff by Navajo silversmith Dan Oliver. The 1 1/2” cuff consists of three bands with a wave shape. The inside is 5 1/4” with a 1” gap.
Tufa casting is a technique of pouring molten silver into a tufa stone mold and letting it harden into a given form. The mold is only used once; therefore each item is an original piece.
Dan Oliver, resident Navajo silversmith at Shades of the West for over 40 years, created original American Indian jewelry exclusively for Shades of the West and Bischoff’s at the Park.
About the artist
Dan Oliver
Dan Oliver, resident Navajo silversmith at Shades of the West for over 40 years, created original American Indian jewelry exclusively for Shades of the West and Bischoff’s at the Park.
His father, Lloyd Oliver, was Navajo and one of the original 29 code talkers in World War II and his mother, Pauline Peters, was Pima (Gila River Indian Community). As a young boy, Dan would watch his father doing silver work, so he learned the art of making jewelry from him. Lloyd Oliver was a silversmith at Shades of the West 40 years ago. He told them his son also was a silversmith so Dan became the resident silversmith at Shades of the West until his death.
Dan felt a great connection with his father when working with silver. He used his father's tools and the knowledge his father handed down to him and always hoped his father would be proud of him.
Dan loved silversmithing for many reasons: he loved making things with his hands, he loved taking a sheet of silver and creating something beautiful, and he loved to try different techniques of working with the metal and the various hues and shades of turquoise.
Dan made both traditional and contemporary silver work. He used pottery and rug designs in his traditional work. He said he got his other inspiration from nature: trees, animals, birds, mountains. Dan said: "Silversmithing is all I've ever done my whole life. I would like people to remember me for my silver work."
The Anselm Collection represents a significant new standard of excellence in handcrafted silver and turquoise jewelry. Each piece in the collection is the result of a life-long quest by the artist for self-expression, for an eternal symbol of personal excellence and individuality. The unique fusion of line, color and style is inspired by the pure, breathtaking landscapes of the West. A thousand years of noble traditions, skills and craftsmanship is an inherent part of every design. Dan Oliver silver pieces are a small portion of this collection.
The enchanting spell flowing from each individual piece in this timeless and exquisite collection will bring a lifetime of pride and excitement. The museum quality of every piece of the Anselm Collection brings with it a value far beyond its current price. Wear it with the same pride and honor with which it was created.
Dan was the proud father of 11 children and 37 grandchildren. He is sorely missed.
