Navajo ring

[Icewing]

I found this silver ring a few weeks back, I could tell it was old and suspected it may be Native American. I contacted the local Museum of Native American History and in no time at all they confirmed it to be early 20th century Navajo silver. Unfortunately the makers mark is worn off (if it ever had one) so it would be hard to ID the artisan.

 

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[austin]

Been awile but here goes. I think the ring was made in about the 1920 time period and it was made by a group of people who were training to be silversmiths. The stone(maybe Bisbee Turquoise) isn't set very well and is certainly not the best available. I forget what the name of the group was and am too old and lazy to look it up, but it's online somewhere. The soldering isn't very good either, but the top of the ring looks great. There would probably never have been a maker's mark there, but who knows. The ring has been worn and some sort of mark could have been worn away. Saying all this, it's worth several hundred dollars because of it's place in history. The Navajos began making jewelry in the 1870's- 1880's and by the early 1900's they were hitting their stride. A collector or someone that knows Native American jewelry would love to have this ring. I'm surprised the museum didn't want it, but at least they got the time frame right. Congratulations...

 

[Mrdigz]

What a great find!!

 

[Icewing]

Saying all this, it's worth several hundred dollars because of it's place in history. The Navajos began making jewelry in the 1870's- 1880's and by the early 1900's they were hitting their stride. A collector or someone that knows Native American jewelry would love to have this ring. I'm surprised the museum didn't want it, but at least they got the time frame right. Congratulations...

I haven't actually had the chance to take it to the museum in person, I just sent them a bunch of pictures. They did ask me to bring it by and I'm going to try to get authentication papers, then I need to find that collector that you speak of.

 

[xr7ator]

Interesting since it looks to be just a common silver and turquiose ring to me. I have found many over the years.

It's always fun to find one, however, and good luck with authentication and finding that collector!

 

[Icewing]

Well I finally got time to run it by the museum, luckily the curator was available. Again he confirmed it's early 20th century Navajo, but since it's so heavily worn and lacks any hallmarks, that's all he could say.

 

[Mr.Waffles]

That's a unique find for this forum. I like it a lot.