Old Pawn LOLITA NATACHU Zuni Indian Silver Fire Agate Vintage ring. LN 1960s

This is in wonderful condition. Because the bezel-set stones have been cut and polished it is difficult to determine if the concave shape of the stone was created by the artisan or caused by wear and tear. Wear on a stone almost always results in lots of flea bites (minuscule chips) as well as surface wear, scuffing, and scratches. There is no evidence of surface damage to either stone, indicating the form was man-made as opposed to being a wear pattern.

DATE

c. Circa 1960 based on the mark.

Some notes from an appraisal on the piece.

A piece from Zuni artisan Lolita Nastacio, who used the initials LN but usaully in a different style.  Lolita's surname also spelled Nasitacio,  more commonly known as Zuni artisans Fred and Lolita Natachu. Based on the research and a look at over 3500 marks, we believe this to be a ring made by Lolita. While she is best known for inlay work when collaborating on designs with Fred, and the mark is slightly different in font style to her mosaic pieces, that is the only mark that is found. She is from a very skilled and well-respected family of silversmiths and learned her trade and love of design as a child. This would be closer to the 1960s Pawn than original items, but the form and style were well copied long after Pawn pieces were sold, or even worse, melted down for the metal content alone, losing many wonderful pieces to the smelter. Today, the more organic simple designs from the old Pawn or "Dead Pawn" as it was also called, are becoming very popular, In the 1960s these heavier more robust pieces were being made prolifically throughout the Southwest by numerous silversmiths, and also factories who valued the earlier authentic styles and forms.