Amy Wesley
Overview
Amy Wesley (born 1953) is a Zuni artist active since 1976, working in mosaic and raised channel inlay. Hougart also indexes her under her former married name — our reference library carries a cross-reference reading "Amy Quandelacy (see Amy Wesley)" — and records that as Amy (Quandelacy) Wesley she shared some stamps with her former husband Dickie Quandelacy.
Gregory Schaaf's American Indian Jewelry I lists her as Amy Quandelacy, Zuni, born 1953, active from about 1976 in mosaic and raised channel inlay with shaped stones, signing D. & A. and D. & A. Q from 1976 to 1984 and Amy from 1984, and sometimes collaborating with Dickie Quandelacy (Schaaf 2003, p. 265). Theda and Michael Bassman's Zuni Jewelry pictures a channel inlay ring of coral made in the 1970s by Amy and Dickie Quandelacy (Bassman and Bassman 2006, p. 16), and lists Amy Wesley among the makers of a group of inlay and channel inlay watch tips made in 1991 (Bassman and Bassman 2006, pp. 38–39). Nancy N. Schiffer's Turquoise Jewelry shows cufflinks and a ring of assembled channel inlay by Dickie and Amy Quandelacy, Zuni (Schiffer 2008, p. 63).
Collector's caution: The D & A marks documented here were shared with her former husband, Dickie Quandelacy. A D & A, D & A Q, or D & A-above-a-Q stamp is a two-maker mark by record; do not attribute a piece to one hand alone on the stamp itself.
The Mark
"Amy Wesley (1953-; Zuni). Active since 1976. Mosaic and raised [...] Amy (Quandelacy) Wesley shared some stamps with her former husband Dickie Quandelacy. Marks: D & A; D & A Q; D & A above a Q (1976); [...]"
— Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022), p. 334.
The marks as documented in Hougart's hallmark reference: D & A; D & A Q; D & A (above a symbol, 1976) — shared with former husband Dickie Quandelacy.
References
- Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. Washington, DC: BilleHougartBooks, 2022.
- Bassman, Theda, and Michael Bassman. Zuni Jewelry. Revised and Expanded 3rd Edition. Photographs by Gene Balzer. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing, 2006 (first published 1992). Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 2006.
- 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.
- Bassman, Theda, and Michael Bassman. Zuni Jewelry. Photographs by Gene Balzer. Revised and expanded 3rd edition. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing, 2006.
- Schiffer, Nancy N. Turquoise Jewelry. Revised 4th edition. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing, 2008.
Know more about this artist? Contact T.Skies.
From the Library: Bassman and Bassman, Zuni Jewelry (2006)
2006 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2006, not today.
Bassman and Bassman (2006) pictured a bracelet she made in 1991:
“Channel inlay made of turquoise by Amy Wesley.”
— Bassman and Bassman (2006), p. 19 [1]
Bassman and Bassman (2006, p. 39) named Amy Wesley among the makers of an assortment of women's and men's watch tips of inlay, raised inlay, channel inlay and needlepoint made in 1991. [1]
Bassman and Bassman (2006) pictured a turquoise belt buckle made in 1991:
“Oval channel inlay made by Amy Wesley.”
— Bassman and Bassman (2006), p. 47 [1]
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.
Name card shown; hallmark photo to come.