Vintage Zuni Cardinal Inlay Ring — Coral & Turquoise, Sz 4.5 View Watchlist >
- Winning Bid: $90.00
- 35 Bid(s) View Bid History
- High Bidder: Garbro1204
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$0.00
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$12.00
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Lot # JD173
System ID # 27746592
Start Date
End Date
6 Watching
Vintage Zuni Cardinal Inlay Ring — Coral & Turquoise, Sz 4.5
A richly pictorial example of Zuni channel inlay work, this large statement ring depicts a cardinal perched on a flowering branch — the bird rendered in red coral, the foliage in turquoise, with small coral accents standing in for berries. The naturalistic composition and two-stone palette are characteristic of the pictorial inlay tradition that flourished from the Zuni Pueblo from the 1960s through the 1980s.
The oval face is framed by a hand-stamped sterling silver border with a scalloped edge and deeply oxidized recesses that give the piece its visual weight. The reverse shows a hand-soldered split shank typical of vintage Zuni ring construction. No artist hallmark is present; the piece is unsigned.
Cardinal imagery carries genuine significance in Pueblo tradition — associated with vitality and the living natural world. Rings of this pictorial complexity and face size are increasingly difficult to find in the secondary market. Sterling silver, tested. Starting at $0.99, no reserve.
CONDITION
Good. All inlay stones are intact and secure in their settings. The silver border retains its oxidized finish with normal age-appropriate patina. The face has been treated with a lacquer or shellac coating — a standard trade practice on Southwest jewelry moving through trading posts in this era, applied to keep pieces bright on the shelf. This coating has aged to a warm amber tone, which accounts for the golden cast visible on the silver field in photos. It is removable with acetone (lacquer) or denatured alcohol (shellac). The coating shows light surface wear consistent with age. Polishing and any coating removal are left entirely to the buyer.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Origin | Zuni Pueblo, New Mexico |
| Attribution | Unsigned / artist unidentified |
| Era | Vintage, c. 1960s–1980s (estimated) |
| Material | Sterling silver (tested), red coral, turquoise |
| Weight | 9.1 grams |
| Ring size | 4.5 |
| Shank width | 3.1 mm |
| Face | 1.44" × 1.05" |
| Rise | .10" |
| Hallmark | None visible |
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