Tatonka.
American Bison.
I love them.
You should see my wide open heart when I travel to Jackson and watch them mill about at the base of the Tetons. I love this animal, this beast, this hunk of woolly flesh. I was born in Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada when my parents were stationed there. My father worked with wood bison and we even had an orphaned bison calf named Georgina who lived in our yard for a stint. I consider this animal to be one of my totems (my older sister does as well). I’m amazed by their size which is proportionate to the legends that surround them. They practically became a mythical beast and were brought back, slowly, from the brink of extinction and are now raised behind bars, for the most part, in North America. I think they represent the vastness of the great plains as well as the majesty of the boreal forests of Northern Canada. They’re a symbol of the wild West (and it’s still wild, to a certain degree). A symbol of final frontiers. They were killed by the thousands by the native tribes of North America as well as the white man for their meat, bones, hide and horns. They’re victims of poor stewardship by men of every color and they used to kill themselves by the hundreds while crossing riverbeds.
Their story, their natural history, is colorful and complex.
Their hooves make thunder.
Their breath is wind.
I refer to the buffalo constantly in my every day speech.
I say things like, “thick as a bison hide” and “Robbie, quit acting like a wild buffalo…”
There’s something about this animal that belongs to me, some unspoken understanding.
And while I’m small I be mighty.
And while they be mighty, they be small.
I craft them out of sterling, fairly often. I cut, with my jewelers saw, their careful shape. Humped, bearded, with that skanky little tail rising of of sturdy haunches. I set them with amethyst in their hearts, or pearls. They remind me to stay wild and run free. No matter how many other sterling ideas I come up with, I always return to the bison. I can’t help it. They call to me.
This ring is meant for a woman who feels the same way about buffalo. If it’s one of your totems, it’s meant to be yours. I’ve taken an concave sheet of sterling, textured it, and applied a bison form to its surface. This fellow wears a heart of pearl and a slash of gold across his back. The back of this ring face features more textural detail and patterning as well as one of my sterling bones. It’s rich with soul and something bigger than that as well — perhaps ghosts.
This ring is sizable.
It’s big and wide, just like the spirit of The West.
May it go to the perfect home.
xx
Wholeheartedly with you, Jillian! I have been fortunate enough to see bison in person and they are majestic creatures!
Lovely jewels as always!
xoxo -I
Our good .. I liked it a lot.
cool picture's
my congratulations
I hope we can keep in touch.
kiss and even more
ps.voce is very beautiful
How lovely of you to say so Flavio!
But my husband the hulking chainsaw wielding smokejumper with a heart of titanium and gold will not like that kissing bit (I won't either).
Run along now.
On the highway into the mountains of Colrado there is a ridge that is seriously breath taking. Cars slam on breaks and swerve to the roadside. For the view that brings tears to my eyes every time and for the wild buffalo. Sometimes they are visible, other times they are mysterious and away. I love them and I love that they live amongst me, just over the hill. I love the anticiaption of seeing them, just as they should be. Grazing, free, beautiful and strong.
sigh.
The ring…is breathtaking and embodies something that is so beautiful yet so powerful. Just like you dear Jillian.
xoxo
M
:O) You are so cute and polite, Jillian. The ring is gorgeous and I agree with your words about the majestic Bison!! I watched them often as I zigzagged my way across Wyoming and Idaho. Hugs, Sal
Hi Jillian,
I came across your blog a few months ago and have often been amazed at the similarities between us (I am also a Canadian living in the US). I couldn't help but comment on this post as I too consider the bison my totem. I'm from Alberta and when I was in Jr. high we went on a school camping trip to Elk Island National Park and a bison proceeded to knock over our camp stove while we hid in our tent and watched as the lumbering thing roamed about. I was in love from that moment on. And now I just happen to live in Kansas where the bison is the state animal and Home on the Range is the state song.
Anyway, I just wanted to say thank you for paying this wonderful beast the homage it deserves, both with your beautiful jewelry and your beautiful words.
Julie (aka Buffalo Lucy)
in "Colorado" and cars slam on "brakes".
I do know how to spell. sorry about that. :{
"I always return to the bison. I can't help it. They call to me."
Amen, sister, Amen.
I will holler to them a big hello from you when we venture into the park this week! xoxo
I love your buffalo jewelry! The pin that you made has been my constant companion. He went on my job interview in June and will be moving back closer to you in 2 weeks. We will be in Kalispell. He was the talk of the dinner table and everyone wanted to know where he sprang from . Miss Plume of course. xxx
Strong medicine!