Zig Zag Ring Turquoise Band Cobblestone Cornrow Inlay Sterling Size 6.5 Inlaid

Description

J
ewelry has long been an important art form among southwestern Native Americans. A history of migrations, trade, and
cultural exchange contributes to its vibrancy —within the context of the Southwest’s continually evolving art history. The
Native Americans remain connected to their upbringing and a core set of common values
rooted in
tradition: harmony and
balance, reciprocity, respect for the family, and the importance of leading a life of significance and producing work of quality
.
This style of inlay is called cobblestone or cornrow inlay.  Besides cutting the stones so that they fit into an intricate pattern, the artist must also bevel each stone on every edge. This requires great skill and time and investment in materials.
You can easily see why this is sometimes referred to as cobblestone if you've ever seen a cobblestone street in an old historic section of a US city or abroad. Native American artists often call it cornrow inlay because in some patterns, the rows resemble corn kernels on a cob.  Turquoise stones are set in a foundation of sterling silver.
No hallmark.
Pieces before
1970 were rarely signed.  As the demand
from collectors became stronger, the collectors wanted to be able to identify who made their jewelry.  In 1970 it was recommended the jewelry be identified
by a hallmark.   From that time on more and more jewelry was
identified by a hallmark.
To create a piece of
inlay jewelry, the artist creates a series of channels in the metal which will hold the stones in place. Stones are carefully measured and cut before being placed in the channels according to the design. The finished piece will be a fusion of the stones and the metal. Channel inlay is considered a more traditional approach to inlay jewelry. It allows for a wide variety of color combinations and complex patterns.
I
have
hand polished this
ring
with a soft polishing cloth to
a brilliant shine.  That
is the beauty of sterling silver, it will become dark and can be polished back to a beautiful shine time after time.
Never out of style, Southwest jewelry is an investment in enjoyment to last a lifetime.
Measures  3/4" wide x 5/16" tall              Size 6 1/2
Total Weight  1.8 grams
Questions???  Please ask before purchasing to avoid any misunderstandings.
Coin for display only.  Not included and not for sale.
You can view more jewelry in my eBay "store".