Albert Nells — Navajo/Diné Silversmith
Navajo (Diné) silversmith. Profiled in Mark Bahti’s Silver + Stone (2007).
Albert Nells, a Navajo silversmith and lapidary, was profiled in Mark Bahti's Silver + Stone (2007).
The Mark
No hallmark is recorded for this artist in our sources yet. If you have a signed piece, we would love to see the mark.
From the Library: Bahti, Silver + Stone: Profiles of American Indian Jewelers (2007)
A 2007 profile, reviewed and corrected by the artists themselves before publication. Anything described as current describes 2006-2007, not today.
According to Bahti (2007, p. 122), Albert Nells was born in Winslow, Arizona, in 1953, to the Salt Clan and born for the Folding Arms (Bit'ahni) Clan; after graduating from high school at Many Farms in 1972 he taught himself silverwork, drawing on years of leather tooling. [1]
Bahti (2007, p. 122) reported that it was not until the early 1980s that he developed his own distinctive style, drawn from the borders of old Navajo saddle blankets and rug designs. [1]
According to Bahti (2007, p. 124), as part of that style he inlays coral, turquoise, jet and white shell, using only traditional materials and never lapis, and he works in gold only on special order. [1]
On entering competitions, Albert Nells told Bahti (2007):
“They are the ones who compare, who really judge. A ribbon is merely the icing on the cake.”
— Bahti (2007), p. 124 [1]
Bahti (2007, p. 125) reported that as of 2007 he showed mainly at the Heard Museum in Phoenix and the Santa Fe Indian Market. [1]
On the coral, turquoise, jet and white shell in his inlay, Albert Nells told Bahti (2007):
“Those colors represent the four directions, the four mountains that mark our land.”
— Bahti (2007), p. 124 [1]
According to Bahti (2007, p. 124), Nells said he limited his competition entries because everything he does “belongs to the Holy People.” [1]
According to Bahti (2007, p. 122), Nells said his distinctive style began with thinking about Navajo rug designs, especially old saddle blankets and how they made the border for protection; when he asked elders, it always came back to the same thing. [1]
From the Library: Jacka, Navajo Jewelry: A Legacy of Silver and Stone (1995)
1995 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 1995, not today.
These are an outside writer’s records from 1995 and the artists’ own words as she recorded them; the Diné themselves are the authority on their own beliefs and practices.
Albert Nells told Jacka in 1995:
“In order to understand traditional values, we have to go back and relearn everything. The more I learn about traditional ways, the more I understand.”
— Jacka (1995), p. 102 [2]
From the Library: Schaaf, American Indian Jewelry I (2003)
2003 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2003, not today.
Schaaf (2003) recorded his signature:
“Albert Nells (signs Nells)”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 243 [3]
Schaaf (2003, p. 243) recorded Albert Nells as Navajo, active from before 1989 in contemporary silver jewelry, with a prize for rings at Indian Market in 1989 and his work in the Heard Museum. [3]
Sources
- Bahti, Mark. Silver + Stone: Profiles of American Indian Jewelers. Tucson: Rio Nuevo Publishers, 2007. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 2007.
- Jacka, Lois Essary. Navajo Jewelry: A Legacy of Silver and Stone. Photographs by Jerry Jacka. Flagstaff: Northland Publishing, 1995. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 1995.
- 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.
Know more about Albert? Contact T.Skies.
This profile is maintained in support of Native American silversmiths and is compiled from published sources, cited above. See something inaccurate, or want to add to it? Contact us.