Born in 1969, Darrel Cadman is the brother of well-known silversmith Andy Cadman and a half-brother of renowned smiths Gary and Sunshine Reeves. This group of relatively young smiths (35 to 40 years old) all learned much of their trade from David Reeves (Gary and Sunshine's full-brother who is now deceased). The Cadman brothers and the Reeves brothers, therefore, share a common element of apprenticeship and exhibit certain similarities in their work. Darrel has been smithing silver since 1992.

In March 2007 Darrel began experimenting with new designs based heavily on the use of appliquées and other textured decorative elements affixed to the cuff to lend rich relief and shadowed depth to his cuffs. We watched his creative process advance and bought the first group of bracelets which we felt accurately reflected what he was seeking in his designs. Though overlaid with numerous appliquées, these cuffs are all fully stamped across the whole surface, even where Darrel knew that he would cover the cuff with appliquées. This is how a Navajo bracelet should be made. We loved this first group of his bracelets and can promise that you will see more of these.

This piece features a free-form stone of natural, untreated Royston turquoise with softly rounded corners and luscious color. The stone is nearly flat with the softest dome. Large appliquées, intricately sculpted and marked by repoussée forms (including large "bumped up" starred buttons) flank the stone. Smaller starred buttons seem to tack the large appliquées to the cuff at the fanned scallops and scrollwork. Past these appliquées, a line of raindrops marks the equatorial center of the cuff. The intricacy of the stampwork on the foundational cuff and on the appliquées is a sensational.

Note on sizing: This cuff could easily be adjusted 1/8" smaller or larger. This would likely preserve the proper size of the gap in relation to the terminal to terminal measurement. Adjustment outside of this size range would be an attempt to make a bracelet fit a wrist size for which it was not made.

An example of Darrel's work is pictured on page 48 of American Indian Jewelry I: 1,200 Artist Biographies by Gregory Schaaf (photo provided by Chacodog.com). Darrel's usual hallmark consists of a ram's head and "D. Cadman" with "Sterling" stamped inside. Sometimes he does not stamp the ram's head, only "D. Cadman" like in this piece.

Stone: 1 3/16" x 1 1/16"           Uniform width of cuff: 1 3/16"

Terminal to terminal: 6"           Gap: 1 3/8"

Total inside circumference (including gap): 7 3/8"