Brett Bastien Contemporary Silver and Red Branch Coral Ring c 2000

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A contemporary Sterling silver and red Mediterranean branch coral ring by Brett W. Bastien, Santa Fe, NM, c. 2000

This is a marvelous and dramatic sculptural ring by the very talented Santa Fe jewelry artist, Brett W. Bastien (b. 1960). Years ago, when he was in his late teens, Mr. Bastien with some assistance from his family friend, the renowned Chiricahua Apache Indian sculptor, Allan Houser, was accorded an extremely rare privilege for a non-Indian of being the first non-Indian student to be accepted into the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe and was allowed to participate

in the jewelry instruction program under the distinguished contemporary Pueblo jeweler, Duane Maktima and Hopi painter and ceramicist, Otellie Pasiyeva Loloma, Charles Loloma’s wife.

Today, Brett Bastien’s unique original Southwestern-style jewelry designs are known for their creative, unique use of interesting stones and they are always particularly well-crafted. And this ring is precisely that, a Modernist sculptural jewelry piece featuring a strikingly large, asymmetrical freeform piece of rare, red Mediterranean branch coral which has been left in its natural branch-like state and beautifully and smoothly polished and nicely set into a deeply-serrated silver bezel mounted atop a heavy triple split-chiselled silver shank.

Red Mediterannean branch coral living in situ in The Mediterannean Sea.

Photo source and © Institut Oceanagraphique

“Santa Fe jeweler Brett Bastien, known as “Big White Boy” for his six-foot–four-inch stature and “BWB” jewelry hallmark, was the first “Anglo” student accepted at IAIA. Although he did not attend during Houser’s tenure (Houser had retired by that time), he credits Houser with helping him get accepted into the school. 'He actually wrote a letter so I could attend,' said Bastien. 'I moved to Santa Fe in 1984. Houser had been featured in Arizona Highways. I really wanted to meet him. Then, as fate would have it, he wandered into my parents’ store—Indian Trader West, on West San Francisco Street.' Bastien and Houser developed a friendship that would last for the duration of Houser’s life.”

-El Palacio Magazine, Santa Fe, 2014

The ring measures a size 10 to 10 1/4 on a professional graduated ring sizer. The ring face measures 1 1/4" in height

and is 3/4" in width at its widest point and the coral branch rises about 1" above the finger. The ring weighs a very substantial, yet extremely comfortable to wear 41 grams or 1 3/8 ounces. The ring is properly signed with the artist's initials "BWB" on the interior of the silver shank and it is also quality marked ".925" for Sterling silver. We purchased this ring directly from Brett Bastien in 2000 and we have owned it ever since. This nearly "Like-New" one owner piece is

in completely excellent original condition having been carefully worn only a very few times.

This ring is a uniquely original and strikingly attractive art piece; half sculptural object, half precious jewelry,

from the creative mind and highly skilled hands of a talented and distinguished Santa Fe artist. We can tell you from

over 25 years of personal experience, that it is a true joy to own this ring whether you wear it, display it or both.

SOLD