May the Fourth Be With You: Jewelry from a Galaxy Far, Far Away

Roger Halas is a metalsmith and stone cutter whose imagination is captured by science fiction and mythology. He has made numerous original accessories for the Star Wars Universe, from belt buckles to talismans. As a lifelong Star Wars fan, Roger says, “working for Lucasfilm has been a childhood dream come true.”

Read on to learn more about the intersection of metalsmithing and storytelling.

Q: What do you love about the Star Wars Universe?

What has always fascinated me about the Star Wars Universe is the underlying mythology. The Jedi Order dates back twenty-five thousand years, so it has this long history coupled with a mystique that borders on the supernatural. Yet like us, Jedi are not perfect. And they are certainly mortal.

The other thing I like is, of course, the production design. The artwork is amazing and having worked with so many talented designers on the Kenobi series, and another upcoming series that will remain unnamed, it’s almost spellbinding to see a character go from concept to camera; especially when you are part of that process.

Q: You create a lot of belt buckles for Star Wars characters. Can you tell us about your favorite(s)?

This story is insane, and it’s absolutely true. In December 2020 I was literally preparing to forge out some Mandalorian armor for myself. Then I got the call to work on the Kenobi series, and my armor took a back seat. Obviously. For the next several months I was asked to create belt buckles for the Royal Family of Alderaan, which included a young Princess Leia, and her adoptive parents Bail and Breha Organa.

I also created a buckle for young Luke Skywalker, Uncle Owen, and of course, Obi-Wan Kenobi himself. And even though that buckle was relatively simple, it was made for a Jedi Master, which makes it particularly special. On the other hand, the most difficult to create was Breha Organa’s buckle, because it was pierced and engraved by hand.

Q: If you could create a one-of-a-kind for any Star Wars character, who would it be?

If asked, I would be honored to design a signet for any Mandalorian in any upcoming film or series. A signet is an animal or skull emblem that is significant to Mandalorian culture, like the Mythosaur, or the Mudhorn, or the Shriek Hawk.

However, I must confess that I would love to see Asajj Ventress make her first live action appearance. Her fate after the Clone Wars animated series is still vague, whether she’s alive or dead. So, if they brought her in, somehow, someway, I would definitely be interested in making something for her, be it a talisman or a belt buckle. She’s one of my favorite villains.

Q: How will you be celebrating May the Fourth?

I’ll be celebrating May the Fourth in my shop, working on another film project. The powers that be have been keeping me busy lately, and I’m all for it. All it takes is one text or phone call, and I gear up. Especially when it’s Star Wars. With all these new series coming out like Ahsoka and Skeleton Crew, and three new feature films announced at Star Wars Celebration 2023 in London recently, there is a wealth of cultures to explore; a wealth of adventures, and conflicts, and languages, and alien races; and within that, a wealth of creative possibilities.

The Creative Journey

As Roger says, “Having been a Star Wars fan since I was a child, the offer to embark on this unexpected creative journey was to me, in all honesty, the opportunity of a lifetime.” See Roger’s works in progress on Facebook and Instagram or shop his Etsy store for imaginative sci-fi and fantasy designs.  Or learn Roger Halas’ techniques for creating mythology-inspired designs in his projects on Interweave.com.

Happy May the Fourth!