Navajo Silver Ring with Oval Green Turquoise [SOLD]

The unique matrix intertwined within multiple shades of green suggests the origin of the stone in this ring as Cerrillos. Mined by the ancestors of today’s local Pueblo Indians more than a thousand years ago, the Cerrillos mine is considered to be the oldest mine in North America. One of the earliest sources of turquoise for silversmiths in the American Southwest, Cerrillos turquoise comes in more than 50 different shades, from a tannish green to an emerald green to a sky blue.

An unknown Diné artist took this unique oval cabochon and set it to make the variations of color within the turquoise stone stand out. In addition to setting the stone securely within a straight edged bezel, the artist decorated the shank with delicate stampwork. Wear over a long period of time has worn the stampwork away on parts of the shank. Although there is substantial wear to the silver, the stone remains intact. It is an extraordinary example of how high grade turquoise can stand the test of time. The ring is unsigned and dates to the 1930s or 1940s.

Condition:  The Navajo Silver Ring with Oval Green Turquoise is in good condition.

Provenance: From the collection of a Colorado jewelry collection

Recommended Reading:

- Indian Silver: Navajo and Pueblo Jewelers by Margery Bedinger

- Navajo and Pueblo Silversmiths by John Adair

Note: when we say Diné, as opposed to Navaho or Navajo, we are referring to the people and not the government.  Since 1969, their government refers to itself as the Navajo Nation.