About the TLS Intarsia Indian

When our club was formed in 1957 and its name selected, the Tuscarora Indian Head was chosen as our club emblem. The club is named after the Tuscarora tribe who long ago inhabited this region. The idea of an intarsia of this subject had been discussed from time to time at meetings.

As plans for our GEMARAMA '75 show were being formulated, we sought a theme or subject that would generate interest in our show. It was then that the intarsia idea was again resurrected and work on it was started. A color sketch of the Indian head was prepared by Paul Longnecker. This, along with color swatches of the minerals needed, was presented and approved. A tracing of the parts and shapes that would be needed was made and patterns were cut from a parchment type paper.

When the selection of materials was completed, the patterns were shellacked and cemented to appropriate slabs and the parts distributed to the members. They were instructed to trim these shapes to 1/32 of an inch of the pattern. The final assembly and fitting was done by Paul Longnecker, director of the project.

The assembling was done in five sections which were smoothed on a large lap. In making a section, a piece of wax paper was placed in plate glass and the slabs placed face down the wax paper. A "V" groove between the pieces allowed for epoxy to join them together without sticking to the glass.

After the whole assembly was completed, a temporary frame was built around it, and the back was coated with plaster of paris. We were then ready for the final clean up and the permanent frame.

Our efforts were amply rewarded when the show opened and the intarsia occupied a prominent place befitting our cooperative project, just as it has done at every show since.

BLACK OBSIDIAN (hair)

LIGHT AND DARK FELDSPAR (face)

BLUE PETRIFIED WOOD (highlights)

GRAY QUARTZ AND YELLOW JASPER (feathers)

GREEN SERPENTINE (background)

Click on thumb nail of TLS Indian for large image!

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Last updated: 01/17/07

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