Allison Lee — Navajo/Diné Silversmith
Navajo (Diné) silversmith. Profiled in Mark Bahti’s Silver + Stone (2007).
Allison Lee, a Navajo silversmith, was profiled in Mark Bahti's Silver + Stone (2007).
The Mark
Recorded mark: Snowhawk, a shopmark he used from 1988 to about 1990; Hougart also records A. LEE, ALLISON LEE, and his name spelled out between half wings (Bahti (2007, p. 86); Hougart (2022)).
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. 83), Allison Lee was born in 1958 in Mexican Springs, New Mexico, and started silversmithing at fourteen, helping his mother and his uncle, Emerson Etsitty Sr., make squash-blossom necklaces by filing and soldering beads. [1]
Allison Lee described that bead work to Bahti (2007):
“The bead halves were pre-soldered. That is, each half had a bit of solder melted on the rim.”
— Bahti (2007), p. 83 [1]
Bahti (2007, p. 83) reported that he took silversmithing classes at Tohatchi High School and, from his sophomore summer, worked in Gallup shops including Richardson's Trading Co., Thunderbird and James Rogers Silversmiths. [1]
According to Bahti (2007, p. 85), after designing for the Eclissi watch company in El Paso from 1981, he returned to Mexican Springs in 1984 and built a line of 'critter pins'; he began working in gold in 1986 and first entered Santa Fe Indian Market the following year. [1]
According to Bahti (2007, p. 86), in 1988 he opened a shop in Albuquerque under the name Snowhawk, which he also used as a shopmark, and in 1990 closed it to focus on his own work. [1]
From the Library: Bassman, The Beauty of Navajo Jewelry (1997)
1997 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 1997, not today.
Bassman (1997) pictured a pin by him:
“Stamped eagle made by Allison Lee.”
— Bassman (1997), p. 32 [3]
and a ring (Bassman 1997):
“Overlay and texturing with a Chinese turquoise stone, made by Allison Lee.”
— Bassman (1997), p. 39 [3]
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 marks:
“stamps Allison Lee inside scallops, first used 1976”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 212 [4]
Schaaf (2003, p. 212) recorded Allison Snowhawk Lee as Navajo, born in 1958 and active from about 1972 in traditional and contemporary silver, copper, set stone, stampwork, fabricated and shadowbox jewelry, living at Mexican Springs and Albuquerque as of 2003, taught by his mother and uncle, and a smith for Steve Skinner. [4]
Schaaf (2003, p. 212) recorded his 1994 Best of Division and the George G. West Memorial Award for Excellence in Jewelry at Indian Market, and Best of Show at the American Indian Arts Festival in Dallas. [4]
Schaaf (2003) wrote of his grandmother:
“His name, Snowhawk, came from her”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 212 [4]
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.
- Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. Washington, DC: BilleHougartBooks, 2022. Cited for the recorded hallmark.
- Bassman, Theda. The Beauty of Navajo Jewelry. Photography by Gene Balzer. Walnut, California: Kiva Publishing, 1997. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 1997.
- 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.
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