Gold Overlay on Sterling Storyteller Ring [SOLD]

For aficionados of Native American Jewelry, Vidal Aragon is a well-known name. His unique storytelling jewelry has been sought for decades by collectors of Southwest Indian Jewelry. A blogpost from Four Winds Gallery in Pittsburg honored Vidal Aragon following his death in 2015. The following is an excerpt from the blogpost:

“Born in 1923 at Santo Domingo Pueblo, Vidal Aragon began his career in the 1930s studying jewelry making at the Santa Fe Indian School. Experimenting with traditional techniques such as tufa casting and lapidary work, he was already highly lauded for his artistry when he began innovating with his soon to be favored craft of silver overlay work. These pieces became famously known as storyteller designs.

“Without using pre-drawn sketches as his guide, his recognizable style features symbolism depicting scenes from traditional Pueblo life, incorporating animals, weather symbols and often a 14k gold sun or moon.

“A natural and charismatic storyteller himself, Vidal's ability to communicate transcended beyond spoken words and translated into jewelry in a way that has connected with countless wearers. In 1941, Vidal's work was featured in the New York Museum. His work has impacted and continues to impact generations of admirers.”

This storyteller ring depicts a Pueblo village scene cut out of a layer of gold and placed upon a background layer of silver. Adobe homes and kivas with ladders are set against distant mountains. The oxidized silver background makes a stunning contrast against the gold foreground.

In 1948, Maria Martinez’s son, Popovi Da, opened the Popovi Da Studio of Indian Art at San Ildefonso Pueblo. He and his wife, Anita, ran the studio for decades. They featured and sold only the highest quality artwork. Vidal Aragon’s work, always in high demand, would have met the high standards Popovi demanded for placement in the gallery. When the shop closed, this ring was part of the remaining inventory.   It was passed down to a granddaughter of Popovi and Anita, from whom we obtained it.

Condition: The Gold Overlay on Sterling Storyteller Ring is in like new condition.  

Provenance: From the inventory of Popovi Da Studio, passed down to Popovi’s granddaughter.

Recommended Reading: Southwestern Indian Jewelry by Dexter Cirillo

Artist Image Source: unknown.