I’d love some help with identifying origins and possible history or even the creator of this ring that was my great grandfather‘s. I’ve had it for a while, but had little information on anything about its history… just that it was my great grandfather‘s and he wore it all the time. He was a great lover of Native American culture, and lived in Colorado, but not sure exactly where he purchased it, but I would love to hear some information on it. I did find another ring on Etsy that looks exactly like mine with the letters L.T. And then Zuni in it so since they are so similar, maybe the LT initials would lead to the actual person that made both of these rings. Any help you could give would be greatly appreciated as I’d love to be able to put a story to this family heirloom. I have included a picture of my ring As well as the ring I found on Etsy that has the initials inside. Unfortunately there are no markings inside Mira, probably due to ware. Thanks in advance for any help anyone can offer.
“POSSIBLE” - Loyolita Tsattie Zuni
source: https://gem.app/search?terms=Tsattie%2C%20Loyolita%20ZUNI
@Billywillgo Hi & Welcome. I checked my Hougart’s book on “Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks” but, unfortunately, didn’t find a listing to match your hallmark. (Just an observation, it appears that Loyolita Tsattie (Zuni) signs her full name in etched script as a hallmark.)
From everything i have seen of her work, this style of carved turquoise and carved coral with a silver fan-looking overlay is characteristically hers. I have noy seen her produce other forms. IMHO, the OP’s ring hallmark is not Loyolita Othole Tsattie’s initials.
agreed
the ring with the L.T. Zuni mark is the look-alike Billy found out on etsy and skewed my search results going with the Zuni angle.
Great Grandfathers ring has no readable marks and LT’s in the Zuni index are slim.
image searching trying to match subtle design elements sometimes takes a hard left
Thank you all for the help and information.
Billy
IMO, the 2 rings don’t look like they are necessarily made by the same artist; there are differences. This is not an uncommon style, so I don’t think we can say that L.T. made your ring. I also agree with the others in that I don’t believe Loyolita Tsattie is the same artist as L.T. since Loyolita appears to carve her stones into leaf shapes which is very different from both rings you posted (and like @Patina mentioned, her hallmark is different).
Minus a hallmark and/or provenance it is usually very difficult to figure out the artist. It’s possibly Zuni made (again, without provenance hard to say 100%). Unfortunately you may never know who made your ring, but enjoy it anyway, because it’s lovely, and was your great grandfather’s which is special. I’m guessing it’s an older ring since your great grandfather wore it, and it’s common for older pieces to have no hallmark.
Agree with @Ziacat that the OP’s ring is not by the same maker as the Etsy ring with L. T. Zuni engraved on the back. The two rings are stylistically similar, but the things which make them similar (combined use of turquoise and coral, free form stones, leaf motif and silver drops) were are fairly common in the 70’s, and not specific to any one maker. If you look at the details such as the leaf construction and the bezels they are actually quite different.