These cute vintage Hopi sterling silver earrings feature a lizard in overlay design. The tadpole hallmark appears to be that of Hopi silversmith Norman Honie Jr. The lightweight earrings measure 7/8 inches long and weigh 1.5 grams each.
Gift box included. The back of each earrings is stamped HOPI Sterling and with the tadpole hallmark.
Silver Overlay is a process of soldering one piece of silver, from which a design has been cut, over another piece of silver. The top layer is a handmade, hand cut overlay created from a sheet of sterling that is then bonded to the base layer of sterling. The base layer background is usually oxidized, which turns the silver surface black, and is often scratched or stamped. The oxidation brings out a contrast between the two pieces and makes the individual designs more visible.