Richard Chavez Turquoise Coral Gold Modernist Ring
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Richard Chavez Turquoise Coral Gold Modernist Ring
About the Item
- Creator:
- Metal:
- Stone:
- Weight:11.5 g
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:Circa 1990s
- Condition:
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:Seller: 52991stDibs: LU10522377953
Richard Chavez
Richard Chavez is regarded by jewelry collectors as one of the finest lapidary artists in the American Southwest. His exquisite Native American-style pieces are painstakingly handcrafted with intricate inlays, dramatic designs and exceptional quality.
Chavez was born in 1949 in San Felipe Pueblo, New Mexico, located along the banks of the Rio Grande. In the early 1970s, he attended the University of New Mexico’s School of Architecture and worked as an architectural draftsman for Harvey S. Hoshour, who had worked for famed Bauhaus architect and designer Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.
While in architectural school, Chavez supplemented his income by making jewelry. In 1976, he left his studies to pursue a full-time career as a jewelry designer, establishing the Chavez Studio.
Influenced by the Bauhaus philosophy of minimalism, balance and the sophisticated use of materials, and inspired by Hopi jeweler Charles Loloma, Chavez began crafting his jewelry using non-traditional stones such as opal, tiger’s eye, lapis lazuli, black jade, fossilized ivory and colored agate, materials he still uses today.
With his perfectionist’s eye, Chavez meticulously hand cuts each stone before it is ground into shape, polished and placed into a gold or silver setting. Chavez’s labor-intensive process results in seemingly seamless creations such as his cuff bracelets. Cocktail rings, fashion rings and other rings and bracelets are also pieced together with puzzle-like precision.
In 1976, Chavez entered his first competition at the Eight Northern Indian Pueblo Arts and Crafts Show, winning the grand prize. He went on to win multiple awards before he stopped entering competitions in 1990.
Chavez now works with his son Jared at the Chavez Studio, creating fine gold and silver jewelry with semi-precious stones. Together, they have participated in several jewelry shows and fairs across the United States.
In 2018, a retrospective exhibition of Chavez’s jewelry titled “Symmetry in Stone” was held at the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona.
On 1stDibs, discover a range of Richard Chavez’s rings and bracelets.
- Richard Chavez Lapis Coral Turquoise and Yellow Gold Ring 1997By Richard ChavezLocated in New York, NYA lapis lazuli, coral, turquoise and 14 karat yellow gold ring, by Richard Chavez, 1997. Signed with maker's mark. Ring size 7. Chavez (San Felipe Pueblo), goldsmith and lapidary, ...Category
1990s American Native American Cocktail Rings
MaterialsTurquoise, Lapis Lazuli, Coral, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
- Richard Chavez Black Jade, Coral, Turquoise, Yellow Gold Ring 1998By Richard ChavezLocated in New York, NYA black jade, coral, turquoise and 14 karat gold ring, by master goldsmith & lapidary, San Felipe Pueblo, Richard Chavez, 1998. The ring is a size 8 US and is stamped with Richard Ch...Category
1990s Native American Band Rings
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- Charles Loloma Lapis Coral Turquoise Gold Shield Ring circa 1970By Charles LolomaLocated in New York, NYA lapis lazuli, coral, turquoise, wood and 14 karat gold shield ring, by Charles Loloma, c. 1970. Vintage jewelry. Signed Loloma, stamped 14k. Ring size 5. Similar examples are shown in the excellent book "Loloma: Beauty is His Name"by Martha Hopkins Streuver, 2005. This is a very finely made, elegant, Loloma shield ring using the highest-quality stones; a vintage jewel in excellent condition, and representative of the great artist jeweler Loloma's best work. The proportion of metal to stone is balanced and the color scheme is harmonious. The shield rings in gold have become hard to find. And the prices for the best jewelry by this transformative jeweler rise even further as witnessed by several recent auctions. This ring is a Loloma beauty, sits comfortably on the finger, and is an investment piece. Hopi artist Charles Loloma was one of the most influential 20th-century modernist jewelers. He was a Renaissance man of the times - a potter, a painter, a muralist, a poet, and a religious ceremonial leader. Living high on the Hopi mesas, he broke multiple imposed prohibitions on Native American jewelers and despite being excluded in his early years from important shows because his jewelry was not Ïndian enough" he simply continued working and changed the arc of his peoples' jewelry making and universal jewelry culture forever. (Loloma told his doubters, it was sufficient that he was an Indian for his jewelry to be considered Indian jewelry.) Through his modernist influence on jewelry, he transformed the design and lapidary techniques - height inlay, styles of shanks and bezel settings, and the use of new materials - lapis lazuli, wood, gold - in much of southwestern Native American jewelry for generations to come, He introduced this new form of beauty to the broader world. Loloma's pieces can be found in almost all important museums and private collections. Frank Lloyd Wright was a client. Mahnaz Collection carries the finest Loloma jewelry (and select artworks) as well as the jewel works of his only two acknowledged proteges - his niece Verma Nequetewa aka Sonwai, and Eveli Sabatie.Category
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- Richard Chavez Fossilized Dinosaur Bone, Turquoise Coral and Silver Cuff 2016By Richard ChavezLocated in New York, NYA fossilized dinosaur bone, coral, turquoise and sterling silver cuff, by Richard Chavez (San Felipe Pueblo), 2016. Stamped with maker's mark, 925. This cu...Category
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- Richard Chavez Fire Opal, Black Jade, and Turquoise 18k Gold Dangle EarringsBy Richard ChavezLocated in New York, NYRichard Chavez 18 karat gold dangle earrings with fire opal, black jade, and turquoise, c. 2020. Maker's mark, 18K. This master jeweler makes very little work now. These earrings a...Category
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- Black Coral Yellow Gold RingLocated in Dallas, TXYou don't have to be a lover of coral to enjoy this beautiful ring!Category
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21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Cocktail Rings
MaterialsFire Opal, Turquoise, Opal, Coral, 18k Gold, Gold
- Large Coral Tsavorite Gold Cocktail RingLocated in Beverly Hills, CAStraight from the reefs! Indulge in this extremely rare 21.3mm piece of coral, perfectly round. The massive coral bead is accented by bright green tsavorite and smaller coral beads, ...Category
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- Red Aka Coral Cabochon Ring 14k Yellow GoldLocated in Honolulu, HIRing Specifications: Metal: 14k Yellow Gold Total Weight: 6.2 Grams Coral Measurements: 16 mm x 12 mm x 5.7 mm Ring Size: 7.75 (resizable) Stamped: "14K" Condition: PreownedCategory
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Cocktail Rings
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