Jason Takala has long been one of the most sought after Hopi jewelers creating the classic double overlay.  Each piece is creatively designed and then cut out of sterling silver or gold and then soldered to the second piece of silver.  As long as I have known Jason, he has been fascinated with making “pottery” in silver.  This seedpot is made from three layers of silver and overlay 14K stars and planets.  He has also incorporated a piece of #8 Mine turquoise.  Jason said about this piece:

“The seedpot has Number 8 mine turquoise.  The designs on this are the clouds and the universe, like I how I see the universe, looking up into the night sky at Hopi.  You can see the movement of planets and the trails of comets.  It represents the prayers of what you see in the sky.  It’s a unique piece that I haven’t made anything like before.”  Jason Takala, 2020

The top is a double overlay and then it is soldered to a bottom layer of silver to create the “seedpot”.  Note the number of individual cut pieces that create this complex design!  That is the difficulty in not just cutting out all the designs, but soldering them together.  As well, the use of the 14K gold adds to the difficulty, as the different metals have different melting points.  It is also one of the larger silver vessel pieces we have had from him.  It is stamped on the back with his signature.

I’m am pleased to once again be working with Jason Takala.  My parents worked with him for years at our store in Colorado in the 1980s-2000.  His creative and distinctive jewelry, as well as his famous seedpots, are what have made him so famous.  However, it is a great friendship and connection of almost 40 years that is an important part of having his work here in our galleries!