Alfred Joe — Navajo Silversmith Hallmark

Biography by Mateo James

Hallmark of Alfred Joe (Navajo) — photographed by T.Skies

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

Per Hougart 5e (p. ~156, PDF p. ~216, lines 16950 and 17152 — entry appears twice, apparently in two separate sections): "Marks: AJ (conjoined; stacked); AJ (conjoined, inside a horse shoe or a circle); JOE; -ALJOE-." Four distinct mark variants are documented.

What is known

Per Hougart 5e (p. ~156, PDF p. ~216): 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. He is the son of Robert Joe (a Navajo silversmith who did nugget sets and crosses; mark: RJ) and 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."

His father Robert Joe's entry in Hougart 5e (line 17251) reads: "Robert Joe (Navajo). Nugget sets; cross. Father of Alfred Joe and Larry Joe. Mark: RJ." This establishes a multi-generational silversmithing family. Larry Joe (Navajo), also listed in Hougart (line 17230), 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.

The Schaaf American Indian Jewelry: 1,200 Artist Biographies (Schaaf 1200 Bios, lines 5736–5836) lists Alfred Joe in an index context alongside other artists, but no biography text was extractable from the available OCR of that book.

Know more about Alfred Joe? Let us know.

References

  • Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (Hougart 5e). Artist entry p. ~156 (PDF p. ~216): "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.

Sister: Rita Joe Cordalis