Zuni Pueblo Silver and Turquoise Petit Point Ring by Roland and Julie Lementino [SOLD]

Fifty small cut and rounded turquoise were set in tiny saw tooth bezels in this exquisite Zuni petit point ring by Roland and Julie Lementino. Not only did the artists meticulously cut and shape the turquoise segments, they placed small drops of sterling silver in between each gemstone. The gemstones were set in a rectangular shape and bordered with two adjoining hand-crafted narrow bands of silver.

The artists, Roland (1922-2001) and Julie Lementino were a husband and wife team who worked out of Zuni beginning in the 1940s. They specialized in fine lapidary work. Their hallmark RJL is stamped inside the ring.

Zuni artisans have been working with small gemstones to create works of art since prehistoric times. Archeological digs at nearby Chaco Canyon uncovered works of art made from turquoise. Over the years, archaeologists have found more than 200,000 turquoise pieces at various sites in the Chaco Canyon area. Archeologists theorize that Chaco Canyon was a distribution center for turquoise. Roads led out of Chaco heading north to Mesa Verde and south towards Mexico. It is believed traders traveled these ancient highways bringing turquoise to the Valley of Mexico, California and beyond. In the late 19th Century, the Zuni learned how to work silver from their Navajo neighbors. It is no surprise the Zuni combined their skill in lapidary work with silver. One early style was petit-point jewelry. The Zuni petit-point and needlepoint styles got their name from the fine embroidery work that was popular at the beginning of the 20th Century.

Condition: The Zuni Pueblo Silver and Turquoise Petit Point Ring by Roland and Julie Lementino is in good condition.

Provenance: The bracelet is from a member of the Maisel family of Albuquerque. Adobe Gallery has just learned that after 42 years of business, the owner of Skip Maisel's Indian Jewelry & Crafts is retiring and closing his iconic store on Central in the heart of Downtown Albuquerque.

Recommended Reading:

- Indian Silver: Navajo and Pueblo Jewelers by Margery Bedinger

- Southwest Silver Jewelry by Paula Baxter

Relative Links: Southwest Indian Jewelry, Zuni Pueblo, Rings, Roland and Julie Lementino