Zuni Ring Native American Sterling Silver Turquoise Sun face Kachina sz 8.5US***

This is a beautiful Zuni handmade ring, sterling silver band inlaid with turquoise, mother of pearl, jet and coral stones. Elegant and beautiful Southwestern collectible jewelry. This piece was handmade and unsigned by a Zuni artist April Ukestine, a member of the Zuni Tribe. Ring size: 8.5 inches (US)Adjustable Sun Face: 0.875 inches long X 1.75 inches wide Weight: 18 grams The Zuni tribe, now located in northwestern New Mexico, was the second Native American group to learn Mexican silversmithing techniques. Navajo artist Atsidi Chon initially taught the art to a member of the Zuni tribe. Their artisans refined the Navajo cluster work technique, characterized by a series of shaped stones glued into bezel settings. Cluster work later evolved into the more intricate petit point and needlepoint styles. Though bezel-set cluster necklaces and bracelets can still be found, most modern Zuni jewelry is characterized by stone inlays, animal shapes and a bold use of color. Inlaid pieces are extremely popular due to their beauty and classic lines. Zuni craftspeople are renowned for their skill with inlay, a technique in which multiple stones are pieced together to form a single image. Colorful stones are cemented into channels created by soldering pieces of silver to a backing plate. The stones are then polished flat, resulting in a gorgeous multicolored figure with veins of silver running through it.