Zuni Pueblo Snake Eye Silver and Turquoise Ring [SOLD]

C4104F-ring2.jpg

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Ben Gchachu, Zuni Pueblo Silversmith
  • Category: Jewelry Rings
  • Origin: Zuni Pueblo, SHE-WE-NA
  • Medium: Turquoise and Sterling Silver
  • Size: 2” long x ¾” wide;
    Ring Size: 6-¼
  • Item # C4104F
  • SOLD

A skilled Zuni Pueblo lapidary artist fashioned this mid-century ring made of multiple pieces of finely cut turquoise. Each small stone was set into a handmade sawtooth bezel and placed on the base. Two small pieces of twisted wire separate the rows of turquoise and multiple silver drops are interspersed in between the stones. It is a very attractive, well-made silver and turquoise ring. The back is stamped Zuni N.M. but there is not a hallmark of an individual artist.

The mixture of sky blue and dark green turquoise gemstones is not unusual in older jewelry. In some cases, it reflects what the lapidary artist chose to select for a particular item of jewelry. However, other factors can be involved. The iron content changes from green to darker green and aluminum from light blue to darker blues and greens. The oils on our hands have a similar effect as water. Over years, or even decades, of touching a turquoise gemstone with our fingers can lead to the stone changing color. In this ring, most of the turquoise in the center is dark green, likely from placing one's finger on the center when putting the ring on, leaving the end turquoise gemstones untouched with the oil on one's hand. Decades of putting the ring on and off one's hand could have such an effect. This could be a good indication of the age of an item. It is generally accepted that treating the green turquoise with Acetone will remove the oils and return the gemstones to blue, but why would anyone want to do such?

Update: We are indebted to Richard Taubman for providing us with the name of the maker of this ring. He stated "I was the founding partner at Turquoise Village in Zuni. Ben was a quiet man who would bring me 10 of these rings at a time in the 1980's. They cost 10$ back then. Hard to believe? There was nothing remarkable in his work. We bought them all the time. Sleeping Beauty turquoise. At the time Ben was in his 60's. Long gone now. Just a name from someone who knew him and remembers him fondly. Nice humble Zuni man like all of them were and are."


Condition: The Zuni Pueblo Snake Eye Ring is in very good condition. All of the stones are secure in their bezels.

Provenance: The ring is from a Colorado Southwest Indian Jewelry collector

Recommended Reading: Zuni: A Village of Silversmiths by James Ostler

Relative Links: Southwest Indian JewelryZuni PuebloRings

Alternate side view of this ring.

Ben Gchachu, Zuni Pueblo Silversmith
  • Category: Jewelry Rings
  • Origin: Zuni Pueblo, SHE-WE-NA
  • Medium: Turquoise and Sterling Silver
  • Size: 2” long x ¾” wide;
    Ring Size: 6-¼
  • Item # C4104F
  • SOLD

C4104F-ring2.jpgC4104F-large2.jpg Click on image to view larger.