Hopicrafts: History of the Hopi Silver Shop at Kykotsmovi

Hopicrafts was a private Hopi silver shop owned by the brothers Wayne and Emory Sekaquaptewa. It began in Phoenix as Hopi Enterprise around 1961–62, moved to Kykotsmovi, and closed in 1983 (Wright 2003, pp. 46, 49, 113). It was not the Hopi Silvercraft Guild. Margaret Nickelson Wright, author of Hopi Silver: The History and Hallmarks of Hopi Silversmithing, warned that "the names of Hopicrafts, a private business, and the Hopi Silvercraft Guild are easily confused" (Wright 2003, p. 46), and the Heard Museum's library authority file ends the same way: "Do not confuse with the Hopi Silvercraft Guild." (Heard Museum 2024). For the Guild, see Hopi Silvercraft Guild.

Founding

The brothers learned silverwork in Phoenix from Harry Sakyesva, "an excellent smith" who "was in ill health and lived with them while Wayne was working for a radio station" (Wright 2003, p. 46). Wright's register dates their start at the bench to 1960 (Wright 2003, p. 81). In Phoenix they founded Hopi Enterprise and "hired another brother and Bernard Dawahoya and Eldon James as silversmiths. Peter Shelton, Jr. was hired as a designer." (Wright 2003, p. 46). Then: "The business was moved to Kykotsmovi and the name was soon changed to Hopicrafts." (Wright 2003, p. 46). Wright does not name the other brother. Our sources don't record the Phoenix address or the date of the move.

The start year is where the sources split. Wright's narrative has the shop opening at Kykotsmovi in 1961 (Wright 2003, p. 46); her own hallmark table gives 1962 (Wright 2003, p. 113), as do Margery Bedinger (Bedinger 1973, p. 209) and Bille Hougart (Hougart 2022, p. 361). The Heard says only "In operation from 1960s-1980s." (Heard Museum 2024). We write c. 1961–62. Writing in 1973, Bedinger described "a quality silver shop called Hopi Crafts similar in aims to the White Hogan in Scottsdale" (Bedinger 1973, p. 209).

Place splits too. "The Hopicrafts salesroom was moved in 1971 to the new Cultural Center at Shungopavi, though the workshop remained at Kykotsmovi." (Wright 2003, p. 46). Hougart says the business "operated on Second Mesa" (Hougart 2022, p. 361), and a Bedinger photo caption reads "Silver by Hopi Crafts, Oraibi" (Bedinger 1973, p. 209). We follow Wright.

People

Wayne "was active with business matters and made limited amount of jewelry" (Hougart 2022, p. 282). Emory "was the first Hopi to earn a law degree, and he spearheaded the arduous and important task of creating the first Hopi dictionary" (Bahti 2007, p. 73). Wayne died in 1979 (Wright 2003, p. 81); his son, Phillip Sekaquaptewa, is on Wright's list of smiths who learned at the shop (Wright 2003, p. 88). See Wayne and Emory Sekaquaptewa, Harry Sakyesva and Phillip Sekaquaptewa.

The first smiths became its teachers. Bernard Dawahoya "worked for Hopicrafts when it opened in Phoenix and moved with them to the Kykotsmovi shop where he helped instruct their smiths"; Eldon James made the same move (Wright 2003, p. 81). Glenn Lucas "Learned at Hopicrafts and served as instructor." (Wright 2003, p. 83). The apprentices Raymond and Tony Kyasyousie recalled that Lucas "taught less by direct instruction than by watching the men work and advising them"; they practiced "in less expensive copper and brass first" (Bahti 2007, p. 73).

Some came in through the back door. Raymond Sequaptewa (note the spelling; not the owners' surname) was hired "cleaning up after the silversmiths went home," when "There were about six or seven silversmiths working there." Wayne caught him practicing on scraps. "He and [his brother] Emory would review my work, pick out a few, and the rest would go back into the scrap bucket." He stayed about eight years, until Wayne's death (Bahti 2007, pp. 158–160). Gary Yoyokie "worked at Hopicraft, sweeping and doing other chores during the summers while he was still in high school" (Wright 2003, p. 60). The shop also bought outside work: Victor Coochwytewa sold his silver individually, "even selling it to Hopicraft for re-sale" (Wright 2003, p. 57).

Marks and what to look for

Hougart records the shop mark as "HC (conjoined, chopped; there are many variations)" (Hougart 2022, p. 361). The Heard lists "HC" and "HE" among its name variants for Hopicrafts Shop (Heard Museum 2024); our sources don't say what "HE" stands for. Hougart also records "SEKAQUAPTEWA and a Hopicrafts logo" as the mark Wayne shared with Emory (Hougart 2022, p. 282).

A shop mark names the shop, not the smith. Wright: "Workers for Hopicrafts formerly marked their silver with the firm's symbol only, with the exception of a few special pieces. Later, some of the smiths stamped their own initials on the Hopicrafts pieces regularly." (Wright 2003, p. 69). And some pieces had no single maker at all: they "were made by several smiths doing the work on each piece, with each man performing one set operation" (Wright 2003, p. 48). An HC piece without initials is a Hopicrafts piece, full stop. Hougart notes that work by Raymond Kyasyousie, Sharold Nutumya, Lawrence Pooyouma, and Doran and Elgene Sehongva "may be marked for Hopicrafts" (Hougart 2022, pp. 175, 230, 254, 281), and that Dawahoya's earlier pieces "may have a Hopi Guild mark or a Hopicrafts mark" (Hougart 2020, pp. 28–29).

What the hand shows: "close attention paid to even sawing, careful filing, and fine polishing," down to "the silver tips on the braid of a bola tie" (Wright 2003, p. 46). A textured matte black background, used "From the beginning" (Wright 2003, p. 48). And a steel-wool final polish, "which makes a satin rather than a bright finish" (Wright 2003, p. 48).

Legacy

It started badly with its neighbors. "The establishment of Hopicrafts caused hard feelings for a time," Wright wrote, and the multi-smith pieces intensified them (Wright 2003, p. 48). Still, "The competition of Hopicrafts caused a general upgrading of the quality of all the Hopi jewelry" (Wright 2003, p. 46), "even though at times the designs became increasingly baroque" (Wright 2003, pp. 48–49). Wright credited designer Peter Shelton, Jr. and the shop with "The use of Hohokam figures, animal and human figures in motion, and elaborate detailing" in later Hopi overlay (Wright 2003, pp. 46–48), and found its textured backgrounds in "widespread use by many Hopi silversmiths" (Wright 2003, p. 48).

After Wayne's death in 1979 "the shop remained in operation for a few years, finally closing in 1983" (Wright 2003, p. 49). Our sources don't record who ran it in those years or why it closed. Its real product was people: our own count of Wright's register finds about 45 smiths listed as having learned at Hopicrafts or worked there (Wright 2003, pp. 81–94).

From the Library: Stacey, Turquoise Blue Book and Indian Jewelry Digest (1975)

1975 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 1975, not today.

Jerry D. Jacka, writing in the 1975 Turquoise Blue Book:

“The "Hopi Arts and Crafts Silvercraft Cooperative Guild" which was organized by Fred Kabotie and the "Hopi Crafts," which is owned by Wayne Sekaquaptewa and managed by Glen Lucas, utilize the services of several fine Hopi silversmiths.”
— Stacey (1975), p. 79 [7]

A note on accuracy. We strive for accuracy, and this page is continuously updated with new information from the artists, their families, and the community. Corrections welcome.

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From the Library: Schaaf, American Indian Jewelry I (2003)

2003 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2003, not today.

Schaaf (2003, p. 119) named Hopicrafts, with Roy Talahaftewa, as the teachers of Marcus Coochwikvia of Mishongnovi, a gold and silver overlay smith active from about 1972. [8]

Schaaf (2003, p. 128) named Hopicrafts, with Emory Holmes and Phillip Sekaquaptewa, among the teachers of the Hopi overlay smith Ramon Dalangyawma, Jr. of Hotevilla. [8]

Schaaf (2003, p. 135) named Hopicrafts as the teacher of Philbert Dennis of Kykotsmovi, a silver overlay smith active from about 1974 until his death in 1999. [8]

Schaaf (2003) wrote of the Hopi overlay smith Nathan Fred, Jr.:

“Nathan learned by watching Glen Lucas and others at Hopicrafts.”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 155 [8]

Schaaf (2003, p. 159) named Hopicrafts as the teacher of the Hopi overlay smiths Alfonso Gashwazra (stamps AG, active from about 1975) and his brother Bradley Gashwazra (stamps BG, active from about 1963), both of Oraibi. [8]

Schaaf (2003, p. 178) named Hopicrafts, with the French designer Pierre Tourraine, as the teachers of the Hopi overlay jeweler Phillip Honanie, active from 1967. [8]

Schaaf (2003) wrote of Eldon James:

“He was one of the first silversmiths to work for Hopicrafts.”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 191 [8]

Schaaf (2003) continued:

“He soon moved with them in 1971 to Kykotsmovi.”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 191 [8]

Schaaf (2003) wrote that the Sekaquaptewa brothers

“opened a shop in Phoenix and started a business called Hopi Enterprise.”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 284 [8]

Schaaf (2003) continued:

“In 1971, they set up a sales room at the new Hopi Cultural Center on Second Mesa.”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 284 [8]

Schaaf (2003) added:

“They trained and hired many Hopi silversmiths over the years”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 284 [8]

Schaaf (2003, p. 284) wrote that after Wayne Sekaquaptewa died in 1979, Hopicrafts closed in 1983. [8]

Schaaf (2003, p. 335) named Hopicrafts, with his father Arthur Yowytewa, as a teacher of the Hopi smith Hubert Yowytewa of Bacavi. [8]

Schaaf (2003, p. 336) named Wayne Sekaquaptewa and Hopicrafts as the teachers of the Hopi overlay jeweler Gary Yoyokie. [8]

From the Library: Wright, Hopi Silver (2003)

2003 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2003, not today.

According to Wright (2003, p. 46), Hopicrafts was a private business, not the Guild: brothers Wayne and Emory Sekaquaptewa, who had learned silverwork in Phoenix from Harry Sakyesva, started it there as Hopi Enterprise, hiring Bernard Dawahoya and Eldon James as smiths and Peter Shelton, Jr. as designer, then moved it to Kykotsmovi, where the shop opened in 1961 under the Hopicrafts name. Wright warned that the two names are easily confused. [1]

According to Wright (2003, p. 46), the Hopicrafts salesroom moved to the new Cultural Center at Shungopavi in 1971 while the workshop stayed at Kykotsmovi, and competition from its carefully finished work raised the quality of Hopi jewelry generally. [1]

According to Wright (2003, p. 49), after Wayne Sekaquaptewa died in 1979 Hopicrafts stayed open a few more years, finally closing in 1983; many smiths trained there kept working, and she saw the influence of that training in much of the overlay jewelry of her day. [1]

From the Library: Bedinger, Indian Silver (1973)

1973 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 1973, not today.

According to Bedinger (1973, p. 209), in 1962 the Hopi brothers Emory and Wayne Sekquaptewa (her spelling) organized a quality silver shop called Hopi Crafts, similar in aims to the White Hogan in Scottsdale. [3]

Field Notes by Mateo James

I notice Schaaf's 2003 register does give a date for the move, 1971, in its entry for Eldon James. That sits oddly with Wright's account of the shop opening at Kykotsmovi in 1961 or 1962, and Wright dates a later salesroom move to 1971, so the two may be confused. I show Schaaf's date as printed.

Sources

  1. Wright, Margaret Nickelson. Hopi Silver: The History and Hallmarks of Hopi Silversmithing. Revised edition, 2003. pp. 46, 48–49, 57, 60, 69, 81–94, 113.
  2. Bahti, Mark. Silver + Stone: Profiles of American Indian Jewelers. 2007. pp. 73, 158–160.
  3. Bedinger, Margery. Indian Silver: Navajo and Pueblo Jewelers. 1973. p. 209.
  4. Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th edition. 2022. pp. 175, 230, 254, 281, 282, 361.
  5. Hougart, Bille. 100 Collectible Native American Silversmiths and Their Hallmarks. 2020. pp. 28–29.
  6. Heard Museum. Native American Artists Resource Collection (NAARC) Thesaurus, "Hopicrafts Shop" entry and mark variants. 2024.
  7. Stacey, Joseph, ed. Turquoise Blue Book and Indian Jewelry Digest. Arizona Highways Collectors Series. Phoenix: Arizona Highways (Arizona Department of Transportation), 1975. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 1975.
  8. Schaaf, Gregory, with Angie Yan Schaaf. American Indian Jewelry I: 1,200 Artist Biographies, ca. 1800-present. American Indian Art Series, Vol. 5. Santa Fe: CIAC Press, 2003. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 2003.

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