Charlie, Ric Sterling Silver Navajo Yei Belt Buckle

This sterling silver belt buckle by renowned Navajo artist Ric Charlie showcases his masterful tufa casting technique, known for its rich texture and refined detail. Featuring a stylized Navajo Yei mask, the buckle incorporates lapis inlaid eyes and a domed turquoise mouth. On the back, Ric carved Monument Valley and oxidized the background in deep black using liver of sulfur.

Dimensions: 3″ 3/16th L  X 1″ 9/16th W

Belt Size: 1″ 9/16th

Categories: , , , ,
Artist:

Faust Gallery

Ric Charlie

b. 1959, Tuba City, Arizona  ·  Diné (Navajo Nation)

Navajo master jeweler Ric Charlie with gallerist Bill Faust at Faust Gallery

Ric Charlie and Bill Faust

Ric Charlie is among the most innovative Native American jewelers working today, a master of the ancient art of tufa casting. Drawn away from the turquoise common to Southwestern jewelry, he is known instead for color: luminous patinas of gold, rust, red, purple, blue, and green, coaxed from silver through a technique all his own.

His fine, clean lines, incised into volcanic stone and drawn from Navajo landscapes and the spiritual figures of the Yei Bi'Ci, have earned him the field's highest honors, from Best of Show at the Heard Museum to the Raymond Dewey Memorial Award for Excellence in Tufa Stone Casting.

"Every time I feel down, I always think about my place in life, and I feel that I have something to give to this world."

— Ric Charlie

Ric Charlie tufa-cast silver belt buckle with colorful patina

Ric Charlie, tufa-cast silver with patina

Read More

This exceptional sterling silver belt buckle is a one-of-a-kind creation by renowned Navajo (Diné) jeweler Ric Charlie, who is widely celebrated for his innovative use of tufa casting. This process, which involves pouring molten silver into hand-carved tufa stone molds, produces a distinct grainy surface texture—visible throughout this finely crafted piece.

The buckle’s central motif is a stylized Navajo Yei mask, a spiritual figure often associated with healing and ceremonial balance. Ric inlays the eyes with deep blue lapis and sets a single, domed turquoise stone as the mouth, imbuing the piece with symbolic meaning and vibrant contrast. The overall form is framed by sharply defined geometric patterns that reference traditional Navajo weaving motifs, such as the thundercloud design, and architectural elements found in ancient Pueblo structures. These angular lines and bold shapes create a powerful sense of symmetry, while the interplay between polished silver and rough-cast texture enhances visual complexity.

On the reverse, Ric has carved a detailed silhouette of Monument Valley, a sacred and iconic Navajo landscape. By using liver of sulfur, he oxidized the background to a deep black, creating a dramatic contrast that highlights the carved imagery. This unique color palette—yellow and black—has become a hallmark of Ric Charlie’s work, achieved through years of perfecting his patina techniques.

Signed “RC” on the reverse, this belt buckle is more than an accessory; it is an exquisitely executed piece of wearable art that reflects Ric Charlie’s mastery of form, technique, and cultural storytelling.

Tufa casting is an ancient and revered metalworking technique used predominantly by Navajo and other Southwestern Native American jewelers. The process involves carving a design into a soft, porous volcanic stone known as tufa, which is composed of compressed volcanic ash. Tufa stone is ideal for casting due to its ease of carving and ability to withstand high temperatures.

To begin, the artist cuts and sands two matching tufa stones, creating a mold by hand-carving the desired design into one half. A funnel-like channel is also carved to allow molten metal—usually sterling silver or gold—to be poured into the mold. The two stone halves are then bound together and pre-heated to remove moisture, which prevents cracking during casting. Once the molten metal is poured in and cooled, the mold is broken open, revealing a one-of-a-kind piece.

Tufa casting is prized for its texture—the stone imparts a natural, grainy surface to the metal, giving the finished jewelry a distinct organic look and feel. Many artists embrace this texture as a signature element of their work, often finishing the piece with additional hand stamping, polishing, or stone inlay.

This method allows for artistic freedom and individuality, as each mold is used only once, making every tufa cast piece truly unique. Tufa casting reflects a deep respect for tradition and craftsmanship, preserving a hands-on, ancestral approach to jewelry making that continues to inspire contemporary Native artists today.