Aaron Toadlena — Navajo/Diné Silversmith Hallmark
Aaron Toadlena's hallmark as photographed on a piece in the T.Skies gallery: his name, Aaron on one band and Toadlena .925 on the next, with a small round stamp before Toadlena. Transcription: Aaron / Toadlena .925. © Turquoise Skies Inc.
A cuff by Aaron Toadlena, photographed in the T.Skies gallery. © Turquoise Skies Inc.
Aaron Toadlena's hallmark as photographed on an authenticated piece. © Turquoise Skies Inc.
Aaron Toadlena is a Navajo silversmith documented as active since the 1990s. He works in several traditional forms, including row bracelets, pendants, and stamp work, with particular attention to carved turquoise.
The mark
What is known
Aaron Toadlena appears in a cluster of Toadlena-family silversmiths. The surname is associated with the Toadlena/Two Grey Hills area of the Navajo Nation (northwestern New Mexico), historically a significant silversmithing and weaving community. Related entries in Hougart include:
- Gordon Toadlena (Zuni): mark G. T.
- James W. Toadlena (Navajo): active since the 1970s, nugget work, row bracelets, applique; marks J. Toadlena; J. W. TOADLENA (may include IHMSS: Indian Hand Made Sterling Silver; may also have etched signature).
No other book sources consulted (Adair 1944, Rosnek & Stacey 1976, Schaaf 2003) contain an entry for Aaron Toadlena.
Know more about Aaron Toadlena? Let us know.
References
- Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022), p. 311.
- Adair, John. The Navajo and Pueblo Silversmiths. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1944.
- 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.
From the Library: Schaaf, American Indian Jewelry I (2003)
2003 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2003, not today.
Schaaf (2003) entered him as
“Aaron Toadlena (stamps Aaron Toadlena)”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 306 [1]
Schaaf (2003, p. 306) recorded Aaron Toadlena as Navajo, active from before 1991 in traditional and contemporary silver stampwork, set stone, fabricated and hollowware jewelry, and showing at the Inter-tribal Indian Ceremonial in Gallup from 1991. [1]
Field Notes by Mateo James
I notice this page says Schaaf has no entry for Aaron Toadlena. Schaaf's 2003 register does give him a short entry, with a stamp of his full name and his shows at Gallup from 1991, which I have added here.
This profile is maintained in support of Native American silversmiths and compiled from published references. See something inaccurate, or want to add to it? Contact us.