{"product_id":"the-red-feather","title":"The Red Feather","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOkay this one has \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003epresence\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Not because it’s enormous, but because the maker basically said: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003efind me the longest piece of coral you have and get out of my way.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA single elongated Mediterranean coral cabochon runs almost the entire length of the ring. The color is fantastic—deep saturated red-orange with the subtle natural variation you want to see in older coral. Then, instead of burying it in decoration, the silversmith built one strong feather alongside it.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe result is wonderfully asymmetrical and VERY vintage Southwest.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhy This Piece Matters\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLong Mediterranean coral cabochons like this are increasingly desirable because the stone itself dictates the entire architecture of the piece. You can’t fake this proportion with a cluster of little stones—the maker needed one naturally elongated piece of coral and designed around it.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe silverwork is equally good: twisted-wire border, deeply stamped outer frame, oxidized recesses and that beautifully executed applied feather running alongside the coral.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNothing is timid. Nothing is wasted.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eArtifact Registry\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eArtifact Name:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Red Feather\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMaker:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Unsigned\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Native American \/ Southwest\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMaterials:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Sterling silver, Mediterranean coral\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStone:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Single elongated natural Mediterranean coral cabochon\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRing Size:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 7\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWeight:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 14 grams\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEra:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Vintage, likely late 20th century\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$425–$550\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCurator’s Field Observation\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLook at the proportion of that stone.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThat’s what makes the ring.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe coral is unusually long and narrow, and rather than forcing symmetry around it, the artist leaned into the shape. The feather occupies one side, the twisted wire traces the other, and those little silver drops act almost like punctuation between the two.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEven the stamped perimeter feels like it radiates outward from the coral.\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\u003eI buy a lot of coral jewelry, and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ethis is exactly the kind I stop for.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNot twelve tiny stones pretending to be important.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOne killer piece of coral.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnd then somebody smart enough to build the entire ring around it instead of competing with it.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt feels old-school, slightly strange, beautifully overlong, and the feather gives the whole thing just enough attitude.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hespera Jewelry Co.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47825093427377,"sku":null,"price":375.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0153\/9641\/files\/19527094-09BB-48CE-BB81-B99E28D69783.jpg?v=1786118945","url":"https:\/\/hespera.com\/products\/the-red-feather","provider":"Hespera Jewelry Co.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}