Alonzo Hustito — Zuni Silversmith
Alonzo Hustito was a Zuni jeweler credited with originating two figures in Zuni jewelry. Bille Hougart's Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks lists him as Zuni, about 1910 to 1990, active from the 1930s to the 1980s in mosaic inlay, appliqué, cluster work and stone sets, and records that he "was reportedly the originator of rainbow man and knife wing figures in jewelry" (Hougart 2022, p. 148). Gregory Schaaf's American Indian Jewelry I records the same credit (Schaaf 2003, p. 186).
Schaaf adds set stone, carved and silver-leaf work and fetishes, and records bracelets, concha belts, earrings, necklaces, pendants, pins and squash blossom necklaces in silver with turquoise, abalone, mother-of-pearl and jet; his favorite design was the thunderbird (Schaaf 2003, p. 186). Paula A. Baxter's Encyclopedia of Native American Jewelry names him, as Alonso Hustito, among the Zuni artists active in the middle decades of the twentieth century (Baxter 2000, p. 192).
He was the father of Charles Hustito (Hougart 2022, p. 148; Schaaf 2003, p. 186). His daughter, Linda Hustito Wheeler, "continued in her father's style, using his old patterns and templates," Hougart records (Hougart 2022, p. 335).
His hallmark
Hougart gives his mark as A. H. in stylized script, and a stylized bear (Hougart 2022, p. 148).
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References
- Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks: Silversmiths, Designers, Guilds and Traders. 5th edition. 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.
- Baxter, Paula A., with Allison Bird-Romero. Encyclopedia of Native American Jewelry: A Guide to History, People, and Terms. Phoenix: Oryx Press, 2000.
From the Library: Schaaf, American Indian Jewelry I (2003)
2003 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2003, not today.
Schaaf (2003, p. 186) recorded Alonzo Hustito as Zuni, 1910s to 1989 or 1990, the husband and collaborator of Helen Hustito. [2]
His son Charles described their work to Schaaf (2003):
“My mother would put the pieces together and my father would do the housing for the bezel”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 186 [2]
Field Notes by Mateo James
I notice this page gives the thunderbird as his one favorite design, citing Schaaf. Schaaf's 2003 entry actually lists three: Rainbow Man, Knifewing and Thunderbirds. I show the full line as printed.
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