Square Clip Earrings with Chinese Writing Stone [SOLD]

Working with unique materials was the passion of Diné of the Navajo Nation jewelry artist Laverne Goldtooth. She loved to experiment with textures and colors and highlight beautiful stones with exquisite silverwork. These amazing earrings consist of a stone called "Chinese Writing Stone".

We have never had any jewelry with this stone in the gallery. Research on Wikipedia says, "Chinese Writing Stone, also known as Chinese Writing Rock, is a rare Basalt porphyry (a combination of granular sediment dispersed in a matrix) mineral with elongated feldspar crystal inclusions." It is found in China and parts of California. The white feldspar inclusions look like Mandarin characters. At first glance, it looks like inlay, but the white characters are part of the stone.

The artist framed a square of this unusual stone with a lovely handmade bezel. Silver drops on the top and five dainty dangles complete the piece for a fashionably distinctive look. The earrings are clip, which makes for a very comfortable fit. They are signed with Laverne Goldtooth's hallmark, an L.

Laverne Goldtooth was a talented and creative jewelry designer and artist. She was known for her use of unique stones and fine silverwork. Laverne was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and studied at the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, where she studied under Duane Maktima and Preston Duwyenie. She worked at the Wheelwright Museum's Case Trading Post. She sold her work at Santa Fe Indian Market, the Heard Museum Show, and the Cherokee Art Market.

Condition: the earrings are in very good condition

Provenance: this Square Clip Earrings with Chinese Writing Stone is from a former New Mexico resident who now lives out of state

Recommended Reading: Rowena Art, Bead Artist and Jewelry Designer (this will take you to another website)

TAGS: Southwest Indian Jewelry, Diné - Navajo Nation, Laverne Goldtooth