Lapidary_Journal_Jewelry_Artist_-_November_-_December_2019

Jewelry Project DRAGONFLY CROSS

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All the segments that are to be

soldered together should look

like this and fi t together snugly.

SOLDER TOGETHER

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Use hard solder to connect the

longest stem, the larger dragonfl y

cross member, and the top of the

dragonfl y. These will all be soldered at

one time.

Apply fl ux to the surface of each

piece and to the ends that are to be

joined. Applying fl ux in this manner

will reduce the incidence of fi re scale

on the surface of the fi nal piece,

reducing time spent buffi ng before

fi nal polishing. Place the silver pieces

in this manner and lock them in

place with the pins. Notice where

the solder is placed. You can curve

Crossover

Symbol

The dragonfly has widely

been used as a symbol among

Southwestern Native Americans,

and represents spring rain and

renewal. Its similarity in shape to

a double cross, or cross with two

horizontal bars, makes it easy

to imagine the development

of the stylized dragonfly cross

following the arrival of the

Spanish. The dragonfly cross is

also known as the Isleta (Spanish

for small island) or Pueblo cross

for the Pueblo of Isleta in New

Mexico, with which the design is

most associated.

More at https://native

americanjewelrytips.word

press.com/2017/10/03/

dragonfly-and-the-isleta-cross/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Pueblo_of_Isleta

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(^45)
For me, using a
coarse pointed
or cylindrical
silicone polisher
on the silver
segment ends
that are to be
soldered is the
best way to
start. It won’t
take away much
silver, but it
creates a place
for the round file
to comfortably
fit into, without
slipping.
36 LAPIDARY JOURNAL JEWELRY ARTIST