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🐍 VINTAGE NAVAJO HAND-CARVED COILED SNAKE RING 🐍
Sterling Silver • Extraordinary Spiderweb Stone • Apparent Old-Pawn/Trader Marking
An exceptional and highly unusual vintage Diné/Navajo sterling silver ring featuring a remarkable coiled snake sculpted from one continuous piece of richly webbed green stone.
This is not a conventional cabochon simply engraved with a snake. The entire approximately 32mm stone has been carved in dimensional relief, forming the snake’s raised head, overlapping coils, sculpted body contours and inward-tapering tail. Viewed from different angles, the depth of the carving becomes especially apparent as the snake rises dramatically from the surrounding stone while remaining integral to the original piece of material.
Combined with its substantial hand-fabricated silverwork, beautifully aged surface and extraordinary stone, this is an exceptionally distinctive piece of vintage Native American jewelry. THE HAND-CARVED STONE
The stone displays luminous mint, celadon, green and blue-green coloration divided by exceptionally dense charcoal-to-black spiderweb matrix. Cool gray-to-lavender areas, pale mineral inclusions and occasional rusty reddish-brown inclusions create remarkable depth and complexity.
Its appearance is strongly consistent with high-grade American spiderweb variscite or closely related chalcosiderite. Among material I have researched, New Lander/Verde Web material from Nevada and Snowville-area variscite from Utah provide particularly interesting visual comparisons.
The previous seller identified the stone as turquoise. After acquiring and closely examining the ring, however, I believe American variscite or closely related chalcosiderite may be a stronger possibility.
The exact mineral species, treatment status and mine origin have not been laboratory confirmed. These identifications and comparisons are therefore presented as informed possibilities rather than guarantees.
A shallow recessed feature is present within the coiled body of the snake. It is stone-bottomed and does not appear to pass through the stone. It may represent intentional negative space incorporated into the carving and/or a naturally occurring matrix feature utilized by the original HAND-FABRICATED SILVERWORK
The carving is mounted in a substantial hand-fabricated sterling silver setting featuring:
• Fine serrated bezel
• Twisted-wire perimeter border
• Openwork shoulders
• Six applied silver drops
• Heavy triple-split shank converging into the rear band
• Broad handmade silver backplate
The reverse and shank retain visible hand-working marks, surface wear and patina that contribute beautifully to the character of the STERLING SILVER TESTING
According to the previous seller, a professional precious-metals buyer, the ring was tested with an XRF analyzer as sterling silver, and their original listing identified the metal purity as .925.
After acquiring the ring, I also performed a non-invasive JSP silver acid test using a separate scratch stone. The test produced the expected bright-red reaction indicating sterling silver, independently supporting the previous seller’s XRF identification.
The testing acid was never applied directly to the ring.
Based upon the previous seller’s XRF testing and my subsequent scratch-stone acid test, the ring is represented here as .925 sterling “MNY” — APPARENT OLD-PAWN / TRADER CODE
The reverse bears a clearly visible hand-etched “MNY” marking.
The previous seller described the ring as an old-pawn piece and identified the “MNY” marking but provided no maker identification or additional documented provenance.
Based upon my subsequent examination and research, the form, execution and placement of the hand-etched “MNY” appear strongly consistent with an old-pawn, trader/dealer or inventory code rather than a conventional silversmith’s hallmark.
The individual maker remains unknown.
Because no original pawn ticket, trader documentation or other period records accompany the ring, the precise meaning of “MNY” and the ring’s earlier ownership history cannot be independently PROVENANCE, ATTRIBUTION & APPROXIMATE PERIOD
I acquired this ring from a professional precious-metals buyer who had purchased it for resale. The previous seller provided no maker identification, Native American/Diné/Navajo attribution or documented historical provenance for the piece.
Since acquiring it, I have carefully examined, measured and researched the ring.
Based upon its hand-fabricated construction, silverwork, design, wear, apparent old-pawn/trader marking and overall characteristics, I believe this is a vintage Diné/Navajo ring, probably dating to approximately the 1970s.
The ring is unsigned in the conventional sense, and the individual silversmith remains unknown.
Because no original paperwork or documented chain of ownership accompanies it, the cultural attribution, exact date, maker and earlier provenance cannot be independently confirmed and should be considered informed attributions rather than APPROXIMATE MEASUREMENTS
• Ring size: approximately US size 8 — please read the detailed sizing information below
• Total weight: 16.74 grams / 0.590 ounces
• Ring face: approximately 35.10 × 28.25mm / 1.382 × 1.112 inches
• Hand-carved snake stone: approximately 32.05 × 25.40mm / 1.262 × 1.000 inches
• Shank at narrowest back-center point: approximately 4.25mm / 0.167 inch
A U.S. Mercury dime is shown in one photograph for visual scale only and is not included with the IMPORTANT SIZING INFORMATION — PLEASE READ
This ring is best described as approximately a US size 8, but buyers should carefully review the following information because its substantial handmade construction and distinctly oval interior prevent it from reading like a conventional round ring on a mandrel.
On my steel jeweler’s mandrel, the ring settles at approximately a snug 7¾.
On my plastic mandrel, it settles at approximately a tight 8; however, even at that point there remains a small visible void on either side of the mandrel because the interior of the ring is oval rather than circular. In other words, the mandrel contacts the ring before completely filling its interior, making a simple mandrel reading an imperfect measurement of its actual fit.
The interior measures approximately 18.60–18.70mm from side to side and approximately 23/32 inch from the underside of the faceplate to the inner lip of the back-center shank. These measurements further illustrate the elongated oval interior created by the substantial hand-fabricated triple-split shank.
For practical reference only: I normally wear a US size 8, and this ring fits my size 8 finger very comfortably. Individual finger shape and fit preferences vary, however, so my personal fit should not be interpreted as a guarantee that it will fit every size 8 finger identically.
Considering the mandrel readings, physical measurements, oval construction and actual fit, I believe approximately US size 8 is the most useful description.
Buyers are strongly encouraged to compare the supplied measurements with a similarly shaped ring that fits comfortably rather than relying solely upon the numerical size.
The ring may potentially be resized, but because of its heavy triple-split construction and large carved stone, any alteration should be entrusted only to a highly reputable professional jeweler experienced with vintage Native American jewelry. I cannot guarantee whether, or by how many sizes, it can safely be CONDITION
This substantial vintage ring remains striking and wearable, displaying surface wear, scratches, small marks, oxidation/patina and hand-working/tool marks consistent with previous use and its handmade construction.
I have not cleaned, polished or otherwise altered the ring in any way since acquiring it. Its existing patina, oxidation and surface character have been left exactly as received.
The carved stone retains a beautiful high-gloss polish with fine surface scratches, wear/polishing lines and natural-looking textural variations visible under close inspection, magnification and strong direct sunlight. Pale gray/whitish areas, occasional rusty reddish-brown inclusions and other variations occur naturally within its extraordinarily complex appearance.
Importantly, the carved stone is tightly and securely seated in its bezel, with absolutely no detectable rattle, looseness or movement when gently checked.
The shallow recessed feature within the coiled snake is stone-bottomed and does not appear to pass through the stone. It may represent intentional negative space incorporated into the carving and/or a naturally occurring matrix feature. It should not be probed, enlarged or subjected to harsh cleaning.
No restoration or repair to the stone is known to me.
The underside, shank, silverwork and stone have intentionally been photographed closely from numerous angles so buyers can evaluate their condition and construction.
Please examine all photographs carefully at full resolution, as they form an important part of the condition PHOTOGRAPHY & COLOR
The primary listing photographs were taken outdoors in direct natural daylight under cloudy skies, providing soft, diffused illumination intended to show the stone’s color, matrix, carving, surface and silverwork clearly.
For additional reference, Photo #23 is a collage photographed outdoors under sunny skies while the ring was positioned in the shade of my back deck.
Photo #24 is a collage photographed outdoors in direct sunlight.
These two collages are included specifically to demonstrate how dramatically the same stone can appear under different natural-light conditions.
The stone displays complex green, mint, blue-green, gray, charcoal-to-black and occasional reddish-brown tones. Its apparent color, depth, saturation, contrast and surface reflections can change considerably depending upon direct sunlight, shade, cloudy daylight, indoor lighting and viewing angle.
Colors may also display differently depending upon individual screen and device settings.
Please review the entire photograph set, including Photos #23 and #24, when evaluating the stone’s color, matrix, surface characteristics and overall PLEASE NOTE
This is a vintage handmade object rather than modern factory-produced jewelry. Natural asymmetry, tool marks, surface wear, patina and variations within the stone are part of its history and character.
All measurements were taken by hand and should be considered approximate.
The stone identification and mine comparisons, cultural attribution, approximate period and interpretation of the “MNY” marking reflect careful examination and research but are not accompanied by laboratory stone analysis, original maker documentation, a pawn ticket or documented historical provenance.
Please review the complete description, measurements and all photographs carefully before purchasing. I am happy to answer reasonable questions or provide additional photographs before purchase. SHIPPING
• Ships same or next business day 🩵🩵🩵
• FREE USPS Ground Advantage within the United States
• Fully insured with tracking
• Carefully and securely packaged
• Ships in a sturdy cardboard box—never a bubble INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING
• FREE through International Shipping
OR
• USPS Priority Mail International
• Flat rate: $48.95
• Insurance and tracking included
Buyer is responsible for any customs duties, VAT, brokerage fees, tariffs, taxes or other import charges imposed by their OFFERS & RETURNS
All serious offers considered.
All sales are final unless the item has been grossly misrepresented.
Please review the complete description, measurements and photographs carefully before purchasing. Questions are always welcome prior to A rare opportunity to acquire an exceptionally unusual vintage Diné/Navajo ring combining substantial hand-fabricated sterling silverwork with an extraordinary dimensional coiled-snake carving and spectacular densely webbed green stone. Its sculptural form, apparent old-pawn/trader marking, beautifully preserved patina and remarkable visual character make this a particularly memorable piece of vintage Native American jewelry. 🩵🐍
