Description
sz6 c1974 Luis Mojica modernist silver sodalite ring, total masterpiece with no issues. Acquired with a similar bracelet by the same artist, selling the ring shown 2" long, 22.4 grams. Below is the information I recieved with it from it's original owner.
"Both pieces were purchased during the time that I lived in New Mexico in 1972-75 time frame. They were purchased from J. Ray Corliss (aka Rick Corliss) who owned a shop on Old Canyon Road in Santa Fe called Yazzi, Mohamed and Muldoon. Rick was quite connected to the art community at the time in Santa Fe and he was always looking for new and unusual things to sell in his store. He was quite taken with Mojica's work and told us on more than one occasion that he had visited Luis. My husband (now deceased) commissioned a bracelet from Mojica through Rick and this bracelet I am selling is the result. He had asked for a show stopper ladies ring (to me it could be either male or female) as well which is the other piece for sale. Mojica was just beginning to gain acclaim for his work but it was in no way main stream. Rick Corliss and I grew up in the same small town in CA so he was not a stranger to me and therefore I did not question him when he said he knew Luis. Rick had other pieces by the artist for sale as well during the years I lived there. That is all I can tell you about the provenance."
LUIS MOJICA
The artist has lived all his life in the Rio Grande valley of southern Colorado and New Mexico in the region once known as the frontier territory of the Spanish Empire in the new world and later as a state of the Republic of Mexico. The region became part of the United States in 1848. the term mestizo or “mixed blood” describing the heritage of inter-marriage between Europeans and the native peoples of the Americas is correctly applied to the artist, and is where his artistic identity began and continues.
The cultural roots that underlie the artwork of Luis Mojica may not be obvious to the casual observer. Throughout his extended career as as an artist, designer, jeweler, ceramist, and painter, he has striven to transcend the limitations of provincialism and conservatism that characterize his traditional Hispanic upbringing in order to create work that is current and expressive of a larger world view. Yet, values such as respect for tradition, persistence in the face of adversity, and a belief in the importance of life long education and spiritual growth have formed the foundation of his artistic efforts as well.
Over the years of his career, Mojica has become recognized as one of the most innovative and proficient jewelry artists in the Southwest. His work is distinguished by the highest standards of craftsmanship, unusual combinations of materials, and a clear sense of functional design. His inspirations include the landscape, colors and cultural icons of the American southwest which are subsequently abstracted into his jewelry designs and finished pieces. His intent to offer jewelry that is well designed and executed, which has the distinct and unique qualities that can only come from the hands of a seasoned practitioner.
Mojica’s work in precious metals has been seen in museum exhibitions and collections of the Heard Museum, Phoenix, AZ, the Museum of International Folk Art, and the Museum of Spanish Colonial art in Santa Fe, NM, the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History, Albuquerque, NM and the Millicent Rogers Museum, Taos, NM. For over twelve years the artist was a participant in the annual Traditional Spanish Market held each July on the Plaza in Santa Fe, where his role as award winning exhibitor expanded to include lecturer, teacher and mentor of aspiring youth artist. He retired from Spanish Market in 2011.
The artist currently maintains a home and studio in Albuquerque, NM.
All precious metals are tested and guaranteed. A Native American jewelry piece referred to as "silver" or "ingot" is guaranteed to be at least 90% silver. I rarely use the word "sterling" when referring to older Native American silver or really any older silver jewelry as silver contents vary and "sterling" is 92.5% silver. No older jewelry is going to be exactly 92.5% silver, some a little over, some a little under. It wasn't an exact thing with handmade jewelry. I've seen thousands of pieces xrf'd to prove this. Bracelets are photographed on a 6" women's wrist.
