Alfred Joe — Navajo/Diné Silversmith Hallmark
Alfred Joe's hallmark as photographed on an authenticated piece. © Turquoise Skies Inc.
Alfred Joe (born 1950) is a Navajo silversmith, active since the 1970s, who works in both traditional and contemporary styles in silver and gold. He is a two-time IACA Artist-of-the-Year and a member of a documented Navajo silversmithing family.
The mark
What is known
Per Hougart 5e: Alfred Joe was born in 1950 and has been active as a silversmith since the 1970s. His techniques include traditional and contemporary styles, stamp work, shadowbox, polished and textured surfaces, silver, and gold. In his own account to Bahti, neither of his parents worked silver; they were ranchers, and he learned silversmithing from his uncle, Colbert Joe Sr. [1] He is the brother of Larry Joe and Rita Joe Cordalis. He won IACA Artist-of-the-Year in both 2001 and 2009, and is described as a "multiple award winner."
Hougart 5e carries a separate entry naming a Robert Joe as his father: "Robert Joe (Navajo). Nugget sets; cross. Father of Alfred Joe and Larry Joe. Mark: RJ." Al's own account differs (see Field Notes below). Larry Joe (Navajo), also listed in Hougart, is described as active since the 1970s and specializing in "jewelry, hollowware; silver, gold" — he is identified as the brother of Alfred Joe and Rita Joe Cordalis.
Schaaf (2003, p. 194) gives him a full biography. [3]
Know more about Alfred Joe? Let us know.
References
- Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed.: "Alfred Joe (1950–; Navajo). Active since 1970s. Traditional and contemporary; stamp work; shadowbox; polished and textured surfaces; silver, gold. Son of Robert Joe and brother of Larry Joe and Rita Joe Cordalis. 2001 and 2009 IACA Artist-of-the-Year. Multiple award winner. Marks: AJ (conjoined; stacked); AJ (conjoined, inside a horse shoe or a circle); JOE; -ALJOE-."
- Hougart 5e, Robert Joe entry: "Robert Joe (Navajo). Nugget sets; cross. Father of Alfred Joe and Larry Joe. Mark: RJ."
- Schaaf, Gregory. American Indian Jewelry: 1,200 Artist Biographies. Index listing only — no biography extractable.
- Bahti, Mark. Silver + Stone: Profiles of American Indian Jewelers. Tucson: Rio Nuevo Publishers, 2007. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 2007.
- Schiffer, Peter N. Indian Jewelry on the Market. Text and photography by Peter N. Schiffer. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing Ltd., 1996. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 1996.
- 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: Bahti, Silver + Stone: Profiles of American Indian Jewelers (2007)
2007 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2007, not today.
According to Bahti (2007, p. 67), Al Joe was born in 1950 in Winslow, Arizona, the oldest of eight children of Robert Joe of Burnt Corn and Rosanne Joe of Dilkon, and learned silversmithing from his uncle Colbert Joe Sr., who ran his own shop in Fort Defiance employing several smiths in the early 1970s. [1]
Recalling the weekend lessons with his uncle while he was in college at Flagstaff, Al Joe told Bahti (2007):
“Soldering was the hardest thing to master in the beginning”
— Bahti (2007), p. 67 [1]
According to Bahti (2007, p. 67), during the Indian-jewelry boom Al opened a silver workshop in Winslow called Little Squash, which at its peak employed about twenty-five silversmiths. [1]
According to Bahti (2007, p. 69), around 1980 the jeweler Gibson Nez urged Al to make a few pieces of good jewelry instead of just production work, and Al went back to Northern Arizona University to study jewelry, learning techniques he became known for, including anticlastic raising. [1]
According to Bahti (2007, p. 69), Al worked a little in gold in the 1980s and moved into it around 1997 for a show of his gold work at Paul Dumont's Kokopelli gallery in New York; about the same time he developed his signature low-dome shadowbox style with a specially curved outer edge. [1]
After serving as a tribal councilman from the Dilkon Chapter from 1991 to 1995, Al Joe told Bahti (2007):
“In art I can satisfy all my customers. And I get a more happy feeling, feel more content with that.”
— Bahti (2007), p. 69 [1]
From the Library: Schiffer, Indian Jewelry on the Market (1996)
1996 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 1996, not today.
Schiffer (1996, p. 126) pictured a horse bolo tie by Navajo silversmith Alfred Joe. [2]
From the Library: Schaaf, American Indian Jewelry I (2003)
2003 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2003, not today.
Schaaf's 2003 hallmark index gives the stamp JOE to him alone:
“JOE (Alfred Joe)”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 144 [3]
Schaaf (2003) entered him as
“Alfred Joe (Al Joe, Alfred L. Joe)”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 194 [3]
Schaaf (2003, p. 194) recorded Alfred Joe as Navajo, living at Winslow, active from about 1972, stamping Joe, Al Joe, A over J and AJ in a circle or horseshoe, with Best in Metalsmithing at the 1982 Inter-tribal Indian Ceremonial, Best of Division for metal jewelry in 1986, and his work in the Museum of Man in San Diego. [3]
Schaaf (2003) wrote that
“He owned a shop, Little Squash, in Winslow, AZ, and had dozens of Navajo silversmiths working for him.”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 194 [3]
Alfred Joe told Schaaf (2003):
“I view my jewelry as contemporary with traditional Navajo designs.”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 194 [3]
Schaaf's 2003 hallmark index gives AJ to two makers:
“AJ (Joe P. Anderson, Alfred Joe)”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 188 [3]
Field Notes by Mateo James
Hougart's hallmark reference lists a Robert Joe (mark RJ) as Al's father and a silversmith. In Bahti (2007, p. 67), in a profile Al reviewed himself, neither of his parents worked silver; they were ranchers, and he learned from his uncle Colbert Joe Sr. This page follows Al's own account; we can't tell from the books whether Hougart's Robert Joe is a different man.
This page once said Schaaf has only an index listing for Al Joe. Schaaf's 2003 register gives him a full biography on page 194, and the line above now says so. It dates his time as Dilkon Chapter councilman to 1991 to 1994, where Bahti has 1991 to 1995; I show both as printed.
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.
Sister: Rita Joe Cordalis