Red Cardinal Inlay Ring »

Sammy Guardian

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About The Artwork

Large sterling silver oval hosts immaculate inlay using turquoise, coral, jet, malachite and white shell. Twenty triangles of varying shades of blue to blue green turquoise frame the composition. The branch on which the cardinal rests is adorned with three malachite leaves as well as one large berry of coral.

About The Artist

First active as early as 1972, this Zuni jeweler created mosaic as well as inlay jewelry. He made bolos, bracelets, earrings, necklaces, pendants and pins using gold, silver, coral, turquoise, jet, mother-of-pearl, abalone shell and penn shell. Preferred designs were: songbirds, cardinals, roadrunners, mallard ducks, red berry bushes, cactus and cattails. A photograph Mr. Guardian along with an example of a cardinal decorated ring appears in Gregory Schaaf's book American Indian Jewelry I. His work is also featured in Volume 2 of Zuni the Art and the People by Ed, Barbara and Steve Bell with Ralph and Jerry Mcqueary, as well as Theda Bassman's book Zuni Jewelry and Barton Wright's volume 2000 Hallmarks of the Southwest.

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