{"product_id":"penelope-the-butterfly-garden-hummingbird-ring","title":"PENELOPE — THE BUTTERFLY GARDEN HUMMINGBIRD RING","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eQuintin Quam Sr. | Zuni Pueblo | Monumental Pictorial Mosaic Inlay\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOkay.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHer name is Penelope.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI don’t make the rules.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI looked at her for approximately four seconds and she informed me that this was the situation.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnd Penelope, apparently, is a hummingbird who has managed to acquire \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eher own private butterfly garden.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBecause there is A LOT happening here.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAt the center is this wonderful little hummingbird, built piece by tiny piece from stone and shell. Around her: butterflies. Flowers. More butterflies. Then an extraordinary geometric mosaic border wrapping around the entire composition like the frame around a miniature painting.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnd Penelope?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eShe’s just standing there.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eObserving.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePossibly wondering why all of these butterflies have been allowed into \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eher\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e garden.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis extraordinary ring is the work of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eZuni artist Quintin Quam Sr.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, whose pictorial mosaic inlay transforms tiny individually cut pieces of stone and shell into complete scenes.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBut apparently Quam decided a normal-sized ring wasn’t sufficient for Penelope.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBecause the face of this thing is approximately \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTHREE INCHES LONG.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTechnically, this is a ring.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTechnically.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn reality, someone built a miniature Zuni mosaic artwork and attached a ring shank to the back so you could wear the entire fucking painting on your hand.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWHY THIS PIECE MATTERS\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is where Zuni inlay stops behaving like decoration and starts behaving like \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eillustration\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePenelope isn’t simply represented by a few recognizable shapes.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLook closely.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHer eye, head, brilliant red throat, breast, wing, tail and tiny feet are assembled from individually shaped pieces of material. The wing itself carries another level of carved detail.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnd then Quam keeps going.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eButterflies move through the composition. Botanical forms appear around the hummingbird. Geometric mosaics frame the scene above and below, while a multicolor mosaic border travels around the perimeter.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEvery few millimeters, something else is happening.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThat’s what makes pictorial mosaic inlay so extraordinary.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe artist isn’t merely setting stones.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHe’s painting with them.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnd at approximately \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ethree inches long and 40 grams\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, the scale of this particular example gives Quam enough room to create an entire little world.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt isn’t merely jewelry depicting a hummingbird.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt’s \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ea scene from the hummingbird’s life.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eARTIFACT REGISTRY\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eArtifact:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePenelope — The Butterfly Garden Hummingbird Ring\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMaker:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Quintin Quam Sr.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePeople:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Zuni Pueblo\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Zuni, New Mexico\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMaterials:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Sterling silver with multistone and shell mosaic inlay\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSubject:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Hummingbird, butterflies and botanical imagery\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTechnique:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Pictorial mosaic inlay\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eForm:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Monumental statement ring\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRing Size:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 12\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFace:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Approx. 3 inches long\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWeight:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 40 grams\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHallmarks:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Q QUAM SR. \/ ZUNI \/ STERLING\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCollector’s Gallery Value:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e$2,700\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCURATOR’S FIELD OBSERVATION\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe first thing that matters here is scale.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAt \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ethree inches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, Penelope doesn’t really behave like a conventional ring.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eShe behaves more like a miniature mosaic panel that happens to have a ring shank attached to the back.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBut scale alone isn’t what makes the piece special.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt’s how Quam uses that space.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRather than isolating the hummingbird against a simple background, he creates an entire environment around her. Butterflies occupy the field. Flowers and botanical forms emerge throughout the composition. The elaborate perimeter mosaic then functions almost like the decorative frame around a painting.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThat gives this piece something I always look for in great figural jewelry:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA world.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYou don’t simply recognize the subject.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYou start looking around inside it.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eARTIFACT CHARACTER RECORD\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eName:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Penelope\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSpecies:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Hummingbird\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOccupation:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Founder, Owner \u0026amp; Managing Director of Penelope’s Butterfly Garden\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTemperament:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Curious. Elegant. Extremely busy despite accomplishing nothing measurable.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNatural Habitat:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Flower gardens, conservatories, expensive patios and the hands of women who consider a three-inch ring a perfectly reasonable daytime accessory.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKnown For:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Being approximately 11% bird and 89% personality.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSpecial Ability:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Can hover indefinitely while evaluating everyone else’s decisions.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKnown Associates:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Several butterflies whose employment status remains unclear.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFavorite Activity:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Investigating flowers she has already investigated seventeen times.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMildly Concerning Behavior:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Has appointed herself supervisor of both the flowers and the butterflies despite neither group requesting management.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThreat Level:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Low.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAttention Requirement:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Catastrophically high.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eERIC’S NOTES FROM THE FIELD\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTHIS is why I love pictorial Zuni inlay.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBecause from across the room:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOh my God. Giant hummingbird ring.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThen you get closer.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWait.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThere’s a butterfly.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOh shit, there’s ANOTHER butterfly.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWAIT.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTHERE ARE FLOWERS.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnd then you realize the entire outside edge is another mosaic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSo suddenly you’ve gone from looking at a piece of jewelry to exploring this tiny world somebody managed to construct out of silver, stone and shell.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnd the fact that Penelope is a hummingbird makes the whole composition even better.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis isn’t random decoration surrounding a bird.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt’s her habitat.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eShe’s surrounded by flowers and butterflies, smack in the middle of this ridiculous riot of color and movement.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBasically, Quintin Quam built a hummingbird her own tiny universe.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThen he put a size 12 ring shank on the back.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhich is objectively fucking fantastic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHer name is Penelope.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnd she lives here.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hespera Jewelry Co.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47871886655665,"sku":null,"price":2195.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0153\/9641\/files\/812DC884-CEBA-4D85-B550-2F3917E24201.jpg?v=1787596750","url":"https:\/\/hespera.com\/products\/penelope-the-butterfly-garden-hummingbird-ring","provider":"Hespera Jewelry Co.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}