Posted 11 years ago
Stillwater
(217 items)
We've had this ring for years and could never figure out the mark. We kept it because it was part of the biggest jewelry score my mother ever made, a suitcase full of Charles Loloma, Preston Monongye, Eveli Sabati, all the best names in Native American jewelry. There are several pieces from that suitcases that were published in books and are in museums.
The lady who owned it was the heir to the Sparklets water company, and apparently had a taste for NA jewelry. Anyway, she married one of our gold-digging neighbors who got this big piece of luggage full of jewelry after she died, which my mother then purchased. I remember her shaking as we were going through it an seeing Loloma, Monongye, Sabati, etc. Just every desirable, valuable name in NA jewelry.
Anyway, we always kept it because of where it came from, but I know jewelry is hard to identify. I especially like the turquoise "inner beauty" "Eye of Rah" on the underside. Definitely going to stay in the family. Does it look familiar to anyone? KH maybe?
What an amazing story and gorgeous ring. I absolutely love this ring.
I am very new to NA jewelry, so please forgive me for pointing out something basic. Here is the website I go to for NA signatures.
http://www.art-amerindien.com/signature_bijoux_amerindiens.htm#k
I actually don't think its a native American piece, it think its some kind of big-shot high-end designer. The suitcase wasn't 100% NA jewelry, there were some other non-NAj designer pieces
Thank you very much for taking the time to help me though Dr. Fluffy, that was very nice of you :) I will try to help you anytime I can
I dont know, but couldn't it be the ring is a really nice tourist piece from Egypt?
All that aside, if it didn't have that really well-done hallmark and the opposite tapered/slanted shank, I'd agree with you
I didnt see it was turquoise in the back. Thats really unusual. What a great story! I hope you find out more about the ring.
Stillwater... I am always looking at jewelry marks. I will keep this in mind. And thanks for offering to help... You always do.
Stillwater, I am shaking just reading this story. I can't imagine what it must have been like going through that suitcase. You def. have the best and most unique eye, and your posts, like this one, inspire me. What a great story. THanks for taking the time to help me in the past too. Love the ring too!
Well thanks BHock, that's very nice of you :)
Not sure if you are still looking for Information regarding this ring, but it was made by the late, Karen McCullough who was a former girlfriend to Charles Loloma in the mid 1970s. She was his pilot and they flew to explore areas, as well as flying to shows. She lived in the Tucson area, but sadly died in an airplane crash. She made jewelry for a small time, and worked in a similar style to Loloma. Hope this solves your mystery.
LoveJewelry, thank you for passing on this information onto CW. I'm sure stillwater will appreciate it, as all of us do on CW.
Whoa, thank you LoveJewelry!!! I never would have figured that out. There doesn't seem to be much on Google about her, how did you recognize the mark?
Stillwater, glad to help. I'm a huge fanatic of Charles Loloma and his work and history. I've done lots of research and collecting information on his life and history. Karen made a body of work she would sell before her life ended shortly. I used to also work for a dealer that once got a group of her jewelry from her mother's personal collection and recognized the style and mark. The KH is actually a stylized KM. Hope that helps. I would have love to open that suitcase of jewelry master treasures.