Zuni Pueblo Turquoise Needlepoint Ring

Late 20th Century

4.5

Hand Crafted from Sterling Silver with 22 Teardrop Turquoise Stones and 2 Round Turquoise Stones with a Figure Hallmark on the Back

In Excellent Condition

A Zuni Pueblo Turquoise Needlepoint Ring is a hallmark of Native American jewelry craftsmanship from the Zuni Pueblo in western New Mexico. The Zuni people, one of the 19 Pueblos in the Southwest, have a rich tradition of lapidary arts dating back centuries, but needlepoint jewelry emerged in the 1920s–1930s as a way to utilize fine slivers of turquoise (and sometimes coral or other stones) that were too small for larger pieces. This technique transforms "waste" material into intricate, labor-intensive designs, symbolizing resourcefulness and spiritual connection—turquoise is revered in Zuni culture as a protective stone that promotes long life and wards off misfortune.