Cufflinks by Jennifer Medina
These elegant sterling silver repoussé cufflinks are skilfully designed and hand forged by Jennifer Medina. The cufflinks measure 3cm in length and are partially oxidised to emphasise the beautiful shape.
Jennifer Medina is an award winning silversmith from the Kewa Pueblo tribe. Kewa Pueblo is the largest of the Indian Pueblos in Northern New Mexico, USA and is also known by the Spanish name of Santo Domingo Pueblo. The Medina family are exceptionally talented and have been making beautiful jewellery for Rainmaker Gallery for seven years. Initially, Jennifer and her sisters were taught traditional jewellery making by their late mother Rose Medina.
“I was taught by my mother at a young age of 12 with my two sisters. She made us learn because it was her only income and thought we would use it some day. We grew up learning how to cut turquoise, shell and coral. She taught us how to shape and drill the stones. By our junior year of high school we knew the whole process of bead making from scratch. An art form our people from Santo Domingo Pueblo have been practising for hundreds of years.
It was about 12 years ago when I decided to try my hand in silversmithing. I know there are a lot of women jewellers in Santo Domingo. Most are bead makers or lapidary jewelers, people who work with stones from the ground up. The creations they make with turquoise, shell and other stones are pretty amazing. But there aren’t very many silversmiths overall. People are starting to branch out and are taking silversmithing classes. As far as silversmiths among women Native artists overall, the field is growing. We’re here and we are definitely competing with all the men.” Jennifer Medina
