Category Archives: navajo

From a Tucson estate some twenty years ago is this visually compelling I believe later 1940’s or perhaps 1950’s Navajo silver ring with a big 29×24.5mm fat oval turquoise stone and lovely old style stampwork decor to what appears an ingot shank. The overtly eye catching local lapidary presentation (a lovely bluish green and I believe Kingman) is set in a plain low walled handmade bezel and thoughtfully bracketed by twisted silver wire. This flanking embellishment provides balance and adds measurably to the visual charisma and distinctly vintage look. There are remains of what may an early incuse pictographic maker mark struck to the back of the shank – I say “may” because an old well accomplished size adjustment has obliterated a portion of its center (I have shown it two ways in the pics for reference). While the crafting of this large beauty would have been contemporary with some so called Fred Harvey style ornaments meant for “Indian Detour” visitors, it does not speak to any mainstream of that aesthetic. This is much more a kind of wearable art. Such atypical joys could once be gleaned now and then by hard searching within the ring trays at those historic trading posts in the hinterlands. While a few of the picturesque rest stops are still there, you would be hard pressed to find anything that looks like this. Weight is very good for the form at about 11.7 grams on my portable digital scale. Condition is quite fine with a nice aura of time to the surfaces. The turquoise stone is well preserved, with a tiny (ancient) loss of some matrix along one side – an unobtrusive mention which may actually be as originally set. Typical and expected signs of period finger duty simply validate the history. A look at the pics should give a good idea of appearance and condition. Ring size is about 4 3/4 or possibly 5 on a flat faced jeweler’s ring mandrel (the lower edge of the shank reaches between those lines on the mandrel). So you know, my regular round mandrel would not measure accurately due to the generous dimensions of the front plate – 1 3/16 in. If you prefer earlier 20th Century Southwestern tribal referenced silver adornment as a road less travelled, or simply wish a single immediate improvement to the ambiance of each day, this will have great meaning for you. This item is in the category “Jewelry & Watches\Ethnic, Regional & Tribal\Rings”. The seller is “pooterpee” and is located in this country: US. This item can be shipped to United States.

• Handmade: Yes
• Type: Ring
• Vintage: Yes
• Metal Purity: 925
• Main Stone: Turquoise
• Brand: Estate
• Metal: Sterling Silver
• Tribal Affiliation: Navajo
• Ring Size: 4.5
• Ethnic & Regional Style: Native American