Alice Leekya Homer — Zuni Inlay Artist Hallmark
Alice Leekya Homer — Zuni Silversmith
Alice Leekya Homer (Zuni) works in channel inlay, fish-scale inlay, and free-style inlay. She is the daughter of Leekya Deyuse (see Leekya Deyuse), one of the most celebrated Zuni lapidary artists of the twentieth century. Her mark, AL H, uses her initials and carries the Leekya family lineage forward in the Zuni inlay tradition.
Her husband Lambert Homer, Jr. (Zuni) is a lapidary and inlay artist who collaborated with his wife; his mark is LA Homer Zuni (etched script).
The Mark
"Alice Leekya Homer (Zuni). Channel inlay; fish scale, free-style. Daughter of Leekya Deyuse. Mark: AL H"
— Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022).
The mark is AL H — the artist's initials in a three-character format referencing her married name Homer.
References
- Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. 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.
Know more about Alice Leekya Homer or the Leekya family Zuni inlay tradition? Contact T.Skies.
From the Library: Schaaf, American Indian Jewelry I (2003)
2003 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2003, not today.
Schaaf (2003, p. 176) recorded Alice Homer as a Zuni mosaic and channel inlay jeweler and carver, ca. 1920-1988, a daughter and student of Leekya Deyuse and a sister of Sarah Leekya, and the wife of Bernard Homer. [1]
Schaaf (2003) wrote of her carving:
“Her bear carvings were requested by many hunters”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 176 [1]
Schaaf (2003, p. 214) named Alice Leekya as a sister of Sarah, Elizabeth, Francis, Robert and Roger Leekya, all children of Leekya Deyuse. [1]
Field Notes by Mateo James
I notice the books name different husbands for Alice. This page, following Hougart, names Lambert Homer, Jr., while Schaaf's 2003 register names her as the wife of Bernard Homer and lists Lambert Homer, Jr. as the son of another Homer couple. I show both as printed until a family record settles it.
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Name card shown; hallmark photo to come.