I was out running errands & I got a call from one of my favorite antique dealers.It seems she came across a small box of pens she had tucked away & wanted me to help ID & price them.
~(a fist full of beat to heck third tier schlock not fit for anything, an early straight clip nonwhite dot band-less, OS Black sheaffer flat top. a PERFECT BCHR waterman 52 1/2 (SWEET flexi ny #2 nib), a mismatched wood-grain cap/mottled barrel 52 1/2V (also a NY nib IIRC), an OS Ingersol twist filler in very very nice shape and a couple of other decent pens)~
In the course of our chit chat & pen evaluation, she mentioned she'd just purchased a group of desert sw/indian style sterling silver.
OOOH! Lemmie see says me. (I've always been a SUCKER for heavy sterling & this style jewelery)
She starts pulling out some wonderful stuff & telling me the story behind it. (she writes down EVERYTHING)it seems the person she purchased it from had worn it for 40 plus years. The artist/silversmith was a man in Scottsdale AZ named Grey One, a member of the Zuni tribe. Who, I'm told has sadly passed away. I've done some quick searching & couldn't find any info on him. anyone?
Anyway, the second I touched the ring I KNEW it was there waiting on me to take it home. It fit like Grey One had my hand there and sized it just for me. It's really strange, I've never had this experience with a piece of Jewelery before. Thats OK, 'cuz I like it!..lol.
I can only take the tale at face value & enjoy it for what it is.I have no reason to doubt my antique girl, she's good people. So in the end I am restoring a couple of her pens & I got this fella in trade. I couldn't be happier. I get to play with some killer pens, help out a friend and make her happy & I get this bad boy.
Anyway, here are some quick pics I just snapped. There is a nice chunk of turquoise & jasper(?). The snake is missing an eye but I think that just gives him a little more character. I'd like to see a scale pattern on him, but I'm REALLY torn on weather or not to modify something like this.
Yes that is a pen & pencil cup on my bracelet.
Makers mark. If his name was Grey One, why a GG?
Hmm me thinks a research project do lie ahead. (ok where did the pirate come from?(errr))
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Tu ne cede malis sed contra audentior ito ~Yield not to misfortunes, but advance all the more boldly against them
Looks like turquoise and coral, two common elements used in Southwestern Native American silver jewelry. I have Peruvian turquoise only, if I had some Arizona turquoise I'd offer to replace the missing eye for you but Peru and Arizona grades are two different colors. Turquoise from Peru has more green to it, while Arizona is a pure light blue with streaks of green and black. The blue/green stone definitely looks like a chunk of Arizona to my eyes. Way cool, I love the roughness about the ring, the way the stone bezels are folded points rather than a solid outer ring. Very unique!
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"None of us can have as many virtues as the fountain-pen, or half its cussedness; but we can try." ~Mark Twain~
It's definitely Arizona turquoise. Brilliant blue & green
'Way cool, I love the roughness about the ring, the way the stone bezels are folded points rather than a solid outer ring. Very unique!"
As do I. it's a rock solid chunk of silver & the overall craftsmanship is great, yet primitive (savage?... lol) & I love everything about it.
'...I'd offer to replace the missing eye for you...'
Thanks bud, but over on PT, my friend Rachel who has an insight like none I know posted this.
" (the missing eye).........can represent your struggles. Connecting to a whole other cultural context, it reminds me of the Norse god Odin, who sacrificed an eye for deeper wisdom."
I love that girl to death. She helps me to look at things from new directions, looking at things I know about but dont see.
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Tu ne cede malis sed contra audentior ito ~Yield not to misfortunes, but advance all the more boldly against them