Vintage Zuni Sterling Silver Turquoise & MOP Channel Inlay Ring Sz 8 View Watchlist >
- Winning Bid: $85.00
- 31 Bid(s) View Bid History
- High Bidder: Nkhattie
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$0.00
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$12.00
($3.00 as additional item)
Lot # JD174
System ID # 27746780
Start Date
End Date
5 Watching
Vintage Zuni Sterling Silver Turquoise & MOP Channel Inlay Ring Sz 8
This vintage ring, in the channel inlay tradition associated with the Zuni Pueblo — a lapidary art form requiring exceptional precision in stone cutting and setting. The elongated oval face is built on a laminated silver plate and inlaid with two flanking channels of bright sky-blue turquoise, separated by a central bar of creamy white mother of pearl. The turquoise carries strong, even color with minimal matrix — a profile consistent with Sleeping Beauty turquoise from Globe, Arizona, the stone of choice among Zuni inlay artists of this period.
The face is set on a plain rounded sterling shank, keeping the focus entirely on the stonework. The construction method — flat backplate with channels sawn from a top silver sheet — is the hallmark of Zuni inlay craft. The piece is unsigned, which is common for vintage work from the 1960s–1970s, a period when much Zuni production went unmarked. The Sleeping Beauty mine closed in 2012; vintage pieces carrying its characteristic sky-blue stone are increasingly sought by collectors. Condition issues are present and fully disclosed below. A solid example of a Southwestern classic for the collector comfortable with honest vintage wear.
CONDITION
Good. The turquoise and mother of pearl retain strong color and all stones are secure in their settings. There is visible material loss at the lower portion of the face — either fill or stone — clearly shown in the photos. The shank is slightly out of round but structurally sound; a jeweler can re-round it with no difficulty. Surface scratches and age-appropriate tarnish present throughout. Polishing left to the buyer. Bid with photos in mind.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Metal | Sterling silver (tested) |
| Stones | Turquoise, mother of pearl |
| Turquoise Origin | Consistent with Sleeping Beauty, Globe, AZ (attributed) |
| Technique | Channel inlay, laminated plate construction |
| Attribution | Unsigned; consistent with Zuni Pueblo origin |
| Era | Circa 1960s–1970s (attributed) |
| Ring Size | 8 |
| Face | 1.21" × 0.64" |
| Rise | 3.81 mm |
| Shank Width | 2.58 mm |
| Weight | 6.6 grams |
| Turquoise (2 pcs) | 21.06 × 5.56 mm / 20.85 × 4.41 mm |
| Mother of Pearl (2 pcs) | 13.04 × 3.37 mm / 11.67 × 3.13 mm |
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