Vintage sandcast post earrings

Navajo handcrafted post earrings. Featuring a unique method called sandcast, these earrings have a sculpted design. They have a light weight.

It comes attached to its original red pawn ticket.The term "pawn" refers to jewelry that has been pawned to brokers. The practice of pawning jewelry began in the early 1900s when Native Americans and traders would exchange jewelry for food and other necessities, it is still used today and is embedded in the Navajo culture. 

Material: Sterling silver 

Method: The Sandcast Jewelry Method: Sandcast Native American is a style of Navajo jewelry was first created by silversmiths sometime between 1840 and 1860. The basis of this process is a mold made by carving the desired design into a stone. Using this mold, a piece of jewelry is made (belt buckle, bracelet, ring, etc.) and becomes the "master sample" from which the subsequent sandcast pieces are made.

Tribe affiliation: Navajo

Time period: 1980's

Overall measurements: 7/8" round