Emerson Bill
Emerson Bill has a technique all his own. His bracelets and buckles are done in overlay technique; a base layer of sheet silver with an overlaid layer from which the design is cut and then soldered to the base layer.
Where his technique differs is in his manner of creating the overlaid layer. In Hopi overlay jewelry the design is cut away from the top layer of sheet silver with a jeweler's jigsaw. In Emerson's technique the top layer's design is sculpted with a cold chisel. This allows him to get beveled edges and cut out angles that couldn't be achieved with a saw.
At first glance his work appears to be very deep stampwork, but stamps won't cut that deep. The visual effect he seeks is characterized by dramatic relief and bold designs. As a result, his cuffs are extremely thick and absolutely indestructible.
