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A very finely wrought Navajo ingot "Coin-Silver" ring by Perry Shorty, c. 2000’s
Let’s talk about a real jewelry jewel! This gorgeous ring by the great Perry Shorty (b.1965) has got it all going on; a beautiful diamond shaped design and extraordinarys stamp, chisel and file work all perfectly hand wrought. The overall effect here is as if the ring was carved from a sold block of silver.
Perry Shorty is well-regarded as one of the all-time masters of Navajo silversmithing and he saves his finest efforts for his revival style “Coin-silver” pieces. The process is arduous and painstaking involving intense heat and physical effort to melt down the old silver coins, cast the ingot silver slug, hammer it out into the form of the ring and apply the intricate design work. Take particular notice of the unique and remarkably well-done beautiful stampowork all the way around the ring’s shank culminating in a perfect star, just fabulous!
At center, Perry Shorty demonstrating Navajo silversmithing at the Hopi Cultural Center, c. 1999. At left and right, some of the types of historic American silver coins this ring was made from.
The ring measures a size 9 1/4 to 9 1/2 on a professional graduated ring sizer. The ring's face measures approximately 3/4” in height and 7/8” in width. The ring weighs a comfortable and very wearable 9 grams or
3/8 ounce and it is in excellent original condition. The ring is properly signed “P. Shorty” in Perry Shorty’s customary cursive signature and is also marked “Coin-Silver” on the interior.
This piece would be equally attractive on either a man or a woman so you and your beloved will just
have to draw straws or make some other arrangement because you will both want to wear it regularly.
It is really a remarkable “go-to” type of piece.
Price $1,575