Hopi Silver Jewelry
Willie Coin, a Museum of Northern Arizona employee, made this bracelet in 1935, around the time that MNA founder Mary-Russell Ferrell Colton started working with Hopi artists to market their work and develop more distinctive styles. [E5441]
Renowned Hopi silversmith Paul Saufkie made this bracelet sometime before 1947. It bears his snow cloud hallmark on the inside. Saufkie taught in the first Hopi silversmithing classes for World War II veterans in the 1940s and helped found the Hopi Silvercraft Cooperative Guild in 1958. [E960]
Paul Saufkie crafted this bracelet in 1939 or 1940. It bears the logo of the Museum of Northern Arizona, which was based on a Hopi pottery design. [E1398]
Wally Sekayumptewa made this bracelet in the 1940s.
The designs on it include a bird with cloud-shaped wings, corn, a feather. [E3553]
The Museum of Northern Arizona recently acquired a collection of early Hopi jewelry from the former Hopi Silvercraft Cooperative Guild, founded in 1958. The Guild helped Hopi silversmiths learn and hone their craft, obtain materials and tools, and market their jewelry.
Ted Masungyaoma from Songòopavi village made this silver overlay cuff-style bracelet depicting rain clouds. He was one of the original silversmiths at the Hopi Silvercraft Cooperative Guild, working with Paul Saufkie and Fred Kabotie.
This silver overlay cuff-style bracelet by Wallie Sekayumptewa depicts water waves, a common motif. [E3064]
Victor Coochwytewa from the Hopi village of Songòopavi made this bracelet, which also depicts water waves. It was purchased at the MNA Hopi Craftsman Show in 1961 for $24.
This innovative bracelet by Charles Loloma (1921-1991), ca. 1973, combines tufa casting, inlay, and set stones. Materials include turquoise from Morenci, coral, lapis, ironwood, and 14 carat gold as well as silver. [E5949]
Mark Tawahongva made this overlay bracelet in the 1980s. The center design combines water waves and lightning, framed by water waves. [E10251]
This contemporary style bracelet by Berra Tawahongva depicts a Longhair katsina (on the left), rain clouds, lightning, and a hand (on the right). [E11328]
Michael Kabotie (Lomawywesa) made this three-layer overlay bracelet in 1993. He called this design is “kiva chant.” [E11596]