Adeline Bowannie — Zuni Silversmith
Adeline Bowannie works in inlay. Theda and Michael Bassman's Zuni Jewelry shows inlay rings and channel inlay bracelets of hers made in 1991 (Bassman and Bassman 2006, pp. 16, 19), and Peter N. Schiffer's Indian Jewelry on the Market shows an inlay necklace of hers (Schiffer 1996, p. 115).
Bille Hougart's Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks lists her twice: as "Adeline Bowannie (Zuni)," working in inlay (Hougart 2022, p. 68), and as "Adeline B. Yawakia (Zuni)," noting "Her maiden name is Bowannie," active since the 1950s in "Multiple styles. Inlay, some figural; may be multi-layered" (Hougart 2022, p. 342).
Her hallmark
Hougart shows a stamp reading ADELINE BOWANNIE (Hougart 2022, p. 68), and gives her later marks as "A. B. Y.; ZUNI A. B. Y." (Hougart 2022, p. 342).
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References
- Bassman, Theda, and Michael Bassman. Zuni Jewelry. Photographs by Gene Balzer. Revised and expanded 3rd edition. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing, 2006.
- Schiffer, Peter N. Indian Jewelry on the Market. Text and photography by Peter N. Schiffer. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing, 1996.
- Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks: Silversmiths, Designers, Guilds and Traders. 5th edition. Washington, DC: BilleHougartBooks, 2022.
- 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, p. 96) listed an Adeline Yawakia, with John Q. Bowannie, among the children of the Zuni smiths Fred and Lula Bowannie, who were active from 1935. [4]
From the Library: Bassman and Bassman, Zuni Jewelry (2006)
2006 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2006, not today.
Motif names follow the captions in Bassman and Bassman (2006), an outside observers' record; the communities who hold these figures sacred are the authority on their meaning.
Bassman and Bassman (2006, p. 31) pictured an inlay and raised inlay Peyote Bird squash blossom necklace by Adeline Bowannie, in turquoise, coral, jet, white clam shell, black lip oyster shell and melon shell. [1]
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.