Description 7 ~ Bennie Ration

I was really happy to find one of these with boulder turquoise, one of my personal favorite stones. This ring was all hand crafted by Noted Navajo Artist Bennie Ration. It's a size 7. Please ignore the reflections in the silver, it is all shiny, these are a pain to photograph.

There's an amazing amount of detail work on this ring - It has a kachina head with fine stamp work and silver detailing. The turquoise stone has light to dark golden browns with tiny ribbons lines of blue. The stone sets in a smooth bezel and is surrounded by twisted silver wire. It has a carved silver border as well as applied silver beads.

It measures 1 3/8" tall by 1 1/8" at it's widest point.
It has a wide split shank band that tapers down to 1/4".
It's stamped sterling and signed Bennie Ration with his eagle claw hallmark.
Weight: 10.7 grams on my scale.
I placed a quarter there for scale.

I'm so lucky to have watched this artist work! The pictures don't do justice to this quality piece. Picture and Bio Below

Bennie was born in March of 1955, on the Canoncito Navajo Reservation in New Mexico to Francis and John Ration. His father, who had been a silversmith since childhood, taught Bennie the art of silversmithing at the young age of eleven. His father told him that no mater what else he did with his life he would always have silversmithing to fall back on. Throughout his childhood Bennie was a talented artist. After he graduated from high school he enrolled in a one-year program at U.S. Silkscreen and Graphics School in Scottsdale, Arizona. Upon completion of the course he worked for three years as a silkscreen and graphic designer.

In 1978 he did “fall back” on the art of silversmithing. With a look and style that he had developed as a graphic designer, he began making three-dimensional figures in silver. His many wearable art designs include Kachina figures, Southwestern animals, feathers and Navajo inspired geometric patterns. When asked how he comes up with his designs he says, “I remember what I see and make pieces in my mind”

Sure to make a Fine addition to any collection, or a great gift!

Please note: Pictures are enlarged to show detail, remember everything looks bigger on line :)