AUCTION: RINGO´S POWER RING

DESCRIPTION Pure silver and gold, Electrum, diamond ring. The two symbols on either side are Lapis Egyptian Lotus blossoms with the wings of Isis. The four nodes symbolize the elements: Earth, Wind, Fire and Water as well as North, South, East and West. The Pentagram and circle represents Man and Magic and underneath is Onyx for grounding and clarity. In the middle sits a pure white diamond, which symbolizes purity in thought, deed and protection. The inscription reads: 12/25/76...'You'll never know just how much I love you', a lyric by Gordon Mack and Harry Warren, sung by Alice Faye, for a 1943 movie "Hello, Frisco, Hello." The ring was commissioned by Nancy Lee Andrews for her then-fiancé Ringo Starr, and made by Heyoka Merrifield, who designed jewelry for George Harrison, Michael Jackson, Neil Diamond, Joni Mitchell, Cher and Bob Dylan.   The power ring is most prominently displayed on the cover of Starr's 1977 album, "Ringo the 4th" as well as many other publicity and personal photos taken by Andrews, a former model, author and renowned rock photographer. According to Andrews: “George Harrison was wearing a fabulous sapphire ring and Ringo was taken aback by its unique craftsmanship and beauty. George said that it was his 'power ring' made by an alchemist shaman. Well, Ringo then had to have a power ring as well. With our busy schedule traveling it slipped his mind only to my advantage. I had given Ringo a silver ring he loved and took it to Heyoka Merrifield and told him to incorporate it into a power ring. Needless to say, Heyoka was elated. We spoke of symbols and color and magic and that is what he used to build the Ringo Starr power ring. So you see, it is a power ring made by sort of a magician and worn by a man who has contributed to the creative collective soul through music.” “I presented the ring to Ringo on Christmas Day, 1976, and he rarely took it off except for the time he damaged it while in Mexico during the filming of Caveman. Ringo slightly dented the ring while playing the conga...being pure gold and silver, it can dent when given a good smack. He didn't want the Lapis replaced because he felt that it was part of the history of the ring. He only wanted Merrifield to straighten it back into shape. On the set of that movie he met his future wife, actress Barbara Bach, and the ring has stayed with me ever since.” “Ringo is a very private person when it comes to his possessions, especially his jewelry. This is probably why this is the first time one of his rings has ever been up for auction.” The power ring comes with a 1976 bill of sale from Heyoka Merrifield, a storyteller, artist, author, alchemist and medicine man.