Navajo Old Pawn Ring

Yesterday, this beautiful ring arrived in the mail from an online auction. It is a stamped silver, Vintage Old Pawn ring with two decorate leaves, surrounding a pearl. Gorg! Old Pawn is a style of Native American jewelry and as the name would imply, it has a pawn history.

Navajo and Zuni tribes would create the most stunning pieces, usually of turquoise and/or pearl and wear them, not only as a bit of wealth and beauty, but also strength. Whenever one was to be made the buyer would go to a tribal silversmith to have it custom designed and fitted.

But economies are cyclical and what was purchased in a time of plenty, may be needed for cash in less bountiful times. In the absence of a standard banking and loan system, the jewelry would be pawned for cash until the next crop came in and reclaim the piece, usually just in time for ceremonies and tribal gatherings. Unfortunately not everyone would always reclaim their jewelry, thus releasing it into wider circulation. These pieces also left reservations and families when a loved one died and were pawned to raise cash.

So when you run across one of these pieces, please be tender with them. You're holding a bit of someone's life. If these things could talk, they would tell you stories of dinners with family, ceremonial dances, weddings, births and changing of seasons.

Dimensions: 5/8 x ½ inch (top of the ring)

Size: 5.5

Cost: I lucked out getting this well below retail... I don't think the seller knew what she had. These usually run $40 upwards with some Old Pawn bracelets reaching $300+ depending on the size, type and age of the item.