Stanford Gchachu,  Zuni Jewelry - New Mexico, USA

This beautiful, elaborate Sun Face design ring is stunning.  Please note the mark on the turquoise below the face is not damage, it is an anomaly of the turquoise that the artist chose to keep. It uses two types of turquoise.  The addition of the imitation opal adds to the iridescence of the piece. Truly a unique piece.  I know this is a style Stanford does with some regularity but this is a particularly excellent example in both execution and distinct stone combination. I sure hope I can lay my hands something like this again. 

The Sun Face Kachina is extremely sacred to the Zuni.  Portraying a Zuni Kachina in it's totality for anything but closed (to non-Zuni's) religious ceremonies is strictly forbidden. At some point it became acceptable to represent the face only. Since that time, it has become one of the most popular designs in Zuni jewelry. 

Stanford is a nephew of well known Zuni jeweler Smokey Gchachu.

Materials: Turquoise x 2, Opal (imitation), Jet, Coral, White and Gold-lip Mother of Pearl.

Metal: Silver

Size: 7

Signed: Stanford Gchachu Z.  (engraved)

Height x Width: 1-15/16"H x 7/8"W

Hallmark: No but this is not unusual for Zuni work.  Everything points to this being silver. It is non-magnetic.

Weight: .2oz/7gr/.0154lb