Made by Phil Morton; purchased in about 1959.
“Morton grew up in Ogden, Utah. He attended the University of Utah from 1939 to 1949 on scholarship. He received his B.A. Degree in sociology with a minor in psychology. He worked as an accountant for American Smelting and Refining in Salt Lake City from 1941 to 1943. In 1943, due to the war effort, Morton moved his family to Berkeley, California and worked as a foreman. During this period he opened a workshop in his basement and made jewelry. He studied contemporary art movements on his own. Morton started to sell his jewelry to some of the leading shops in his area. Soon after his success, he was invited to teach design at Alfred University at the School for American Craftsmen. After this position he taught at University of Minnesota. Morton taught three dimensional design, jewelry and sculpture. He established the first bronze foundry in any university art program in 1951. Morton devoted the next ten years of his life to bronze sculpture and jewelry making. (Temple University)
The note Pat left with this ring says:
“Phil Morton made this white jade ring. Gracie bought it on a trip she made with the kids and me – the summer Margot Barrie visited and we junketed in the Borgward – 1959?”
