A family tradition.
20th July 2023 - Customer location: Mackay
When each of my boys turned twenty-one I made them a dress ring featuring our family crest. I do a similar thing for some families of the Zenadth Kes community.
The first totem ring I made for the family back in 2016
When I first met this Zendath Kes family in 2016 I had no idea that I already had a connection with them in two ways. The first was that I knew the family name and had already made jewellery for other members of the extended family. This happens often in the Zenadth Kes community.
The second connection was to the grandson that the above ring was made for. It was to mark his 18th birthday and also his graduation from high school. My son was at the same school and in the same graduating year.
So during lunch one day my son and the grandson came over from school together to my workshop to finalise the size of the ring prior to me making it. Over the years I have made other pieces for the family also.
The two rings I made in 2023.
Now in 2023 and I was asked to make two rings, one featuring the Frigate bird totem again and another the Hammerhead shark.
I stopped making the totem rings in silver quite a few years ago. That said I make an exception for families that have this tradition running. It was quite fitting that I was working on these rings during NAIDOC week.
Have a great weekend and if you are in Cairns enjoy the Show Holiday.