Agnes Bowekaty — Zuni Silversmith
Agnes Bowekaty works in needlepoint with her husband, Hugh Bowekaty. Bille Hougart's Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks lists her as "Agnes Bowekaty (Zuni)," active since the 1950s in needlepoint, and records that she shares her stamps with him (Hougart 2022, p. 69).
Theda and Michael Bassman's Zuni Jewelry shows the couple's needlepoint squash blossom necklace with earrings to match, made in the 1970s (Bassman and Bassman 2006, p. 44), and a needlepoint oval pin-pendant of theirs (Bassman and Bassman 2006, p. 45).
Her hallmark
Hougart gives the couple's shared marks as H & A, H. BOWEKATY and H. & A. BOWEKATY (Hougart 2022, p. 69). The second carries only Hugh's initial, but Hougart lists all three under both of them.
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References
- Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks: Silversmiths, Designers, Guilds and Traders. 5th edition. Washington, DC: BilleHougartBooks, 2022.
- Bassman, Theda, and Michael Bassman. Zuni Jewelry. Photographs by Gene Balzer. Revised and expanded 3rd edition. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing, 2006.
- 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) dated the couple's stamps: H.&A. BOWEKATY from 1974, H. BOWEKATY from 1983, and also H & A. Schaaf recorded Agnes Bowekaty as active from 1951 in needlepoint, teaching Florenda Haskie and Norbert Haskie. [3]
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 Zuni people are the authority on the meaning of their own sacred figures.
Among Rainbow God pins made in 1991, Bassman and Bassman (2006) pictured one by Agnes and Hugh Bowekaty:
“Turquoise needlepoint pin made by Agnes and Hugh Bowekaty.”
— Bassman and Bassman (2006), p. 27 [2]
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.