Pearl Harbor Survivors Association ring worn by Ck2c George Francis Bland: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A Pearl Harbor Survivors Association ring worn by Ck2c George Francis Bland. The 10 carat gold ring has a cerulean blue, emerald shaped, radiant cut, simulated Fire Blue Spinel gemstone at the center. The gemstone’s bezel setting and the sides of the ring have embossed text and graphics with the recesses blackened. The text running around the bezel setting edges reads [PEARL HARBOR SURVIVORS ASSN] with a five-pointed star at the bottom center. On the proper left shoulder of the ring is a topographic map of Oahu with text above that reads [DEC. 7 1941] and [REMEMBER / PEARL / HARBOR] below. At the top of the ring’s shank, is a single chevron that points towards a five-pointed star below, and a centered, thick band that wraps around the bottom of the shank to the star and chevron on other side. On the proper right shoulder of the ring is the logo for the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association. The logo is circular with a band around the edges with text in the band that reads [PEARL HARBOR SURVIVORS / ? ASSOCIATION ?]. At the center of the logo is the association’s emblem; an eagle in profile with its wings extended, holding a missile in its talons, set against a water textured background. Above the eagle’s head is small text that reads [Founded[?] 1958[?]]. The logo is accented at the top left and right corners by laurel leaves and there is a scrolled banner below the logo that reads [DEC. 7, 1958]. The inside surface of the ring is smooth. Just behind the gemstone is engraved text that reads [GFB]. Stamped on the proper left side of the rings interior is a hallmark with text that reads [©ARTCARVED® / 10KT].

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: mid 20th-early 21st century
• Manufactured by: ArtCarved, American, founded 1850
• Worn by: Ck2c George Francis Bland, American, 1922 - 2014
• Subject of: Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, American, founded 1958
• Subject of: Naval Station Pearl Harbor, American, founded 1899
• Subject of: United States Navy, American, founded 1775
• Type: finger rings
• Medium: gold and synthetic cobalt spinel
• Dimensions: H x W x D: 13/16 × 1 × 1 1/4 in. (2 × 2.6 × 3.2 cm)
• Place made: Austin, Travis County, Texas, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Military
• Topic: World War II
• Object number: 2024.46.2
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Frank Bland in memory of George Francis Bland
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: © ArtCarved Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.