Pawn Jewelry-Navajo ring with Spiny oyster shell

Navajo handcrafted ring. Made of solid sterling silver and genuine red spiny oyster shell. The ring features a unique addition, the artist has cut out a rectangle shape out of the side of the shell and inserted a raised piece of clam shell. A simple smooth bezel wraps around the shell and sets on a 1/2 round split wire shank. A ture one of a kind. 

 It comes attached to its original red pawn ticket.The term "pawn" refers to jewelry that has been pawned to brokers. The practice of pawning jewelry began in the early 1900s when Native Americans and traders would exchange jewelry for food and other necessities, it is still used today and is embedded in the Navajo culture. 

Material: Sterling silver & Spiny oyster shell

Tribe affiliation: Navajo

Time period: current 

Mounting measurements :1" x 1/2"