Vintage Arts and Crafts Chrysocolla Ring

This uncommon vintage sterling silver ring is beautiful with its domed blue chysocolla stone, but story and character are what elevate the ring to greatness. 

It came to Turquoise & Tufa as part of a small heirloom collection of Native American jewelry originally acquired in the early 20th Century by a man who traveled to the Southwest from New Orleans for work. He spent a few years working in the Southwest among Native American people. During those years, he acquired a nice little jewelry collection and brought it back to his New Orleans family. The group of Navajo and Pueblo jewelry and this ring quickly achieved legendary status among the man's family because it was unique and accompanied by the man's stories of his time out West. 

The jewelry was so special that it went unworn even as it passed through different generations of family. 

The original collector's granddaughter is now an elderly woman without any children and hoped that each piece would go to a new home to be cherished and passed through new generations of family. 

This ring is the most unique of the New Orleans heirloom pieces because it was acquired in the Southwest but it's very much Arts and Crafts in design except for the interesting applique shield shapes that appear on either side of the stone. In fact, the ring was passed down through time as being Native American made like the rest of the collection, however, it's probably not. Perhaps it was just purchased by the New Orleans man from his Native American friends. Perhaps his friends had acquired it in trade. 

We can't easily know who made it. We just know when and where it was acquired and how it achieved almost mythical status as part of one family's heirloom collection. 

In fact, I asked noted Native American jewelry historian Robert Bauver his thoughts on this ring. He, too, believes it's probably not Native made due to its Arts & Crafts design - notice the opening at the back of the stone from inside the band - one of the hallmarks of that style of ring. 

Whatever the case may be, this pretty ring is so much more than the sum of its parts. It is unusual for an early piece like this to be available directly from the original family that collected it. 

This storied ring is small in fit - it's just a size 5 1/4, but it has presence because of the domed shape of the stone.. It looks lovely on the ring finger or pinky.

It would make such a wonderful gift to a daughter or granddaughter!

Could this heirloom piece become a beloved part of your family's story?