Andrew Dewa — Zuni Silversmith
Andrew Dewa worked in raised and mosaic figural inlay. Bille Hougart's Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks lists him as "Andrew Dewa (?-2001; Zuni)," active from the 1960s until 2001, and names his brother, Don Dewa, also a jeweler. His wife, Barbara, worked with him and continues the same designs (Hougart 2022, p. 105).
Theda and Michael Bassman's Zuni Jewelry, which prints his name as Andrew Van Dewa, shows his raised inlay rings of the 1970s in turquoise, coral, penn shell, jet, mother-of-pearl, gold-lip mother-of-pearl, white clam shell and melon shell (Bassman and Bassman 2006, p. 14), and a raised inlay bola tie of 1984 and ring of 1991 that add green snail shell, abalone and pipestone to the palette (Bassman and Bassman 2006, p. 34).
His hallmark
Hougart gives his marks as A D, A. C. DEWA and A. DEWA ZUNI (Hougart 2022, p. 105). The plain A D is not his alone: Alec Dennis, a Hopi smith on the same page, also marks A D. Barbara Dewa marks her own work BARBARA (Hougart 2022, p. 105).
Own a piece with this mark, or know more about this artist? Contact T.Skies.
References
- Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks: Silversmiths, Designers, Guilds and Traders. 5th edition. Washington, DC: BilleHougartBooks, 2022.
- Bassman, Theda, and Michael Bassman. Zuni Jewelry. Photographs by Gene Balzer. Revised and expanded 3rd edition. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing, 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. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 2003.
From the Library: Schaaf, American Indian Jewelry I (2003)
2003 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2003, not today.
Schaaf (2003), entering him also as Andrew Van Dewa, dated his first stamp:
“stamped A.C. Dewa (1973-)”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 135 [3]
Schaaf (2003, p. 135) dated his AD stamp from 1974, recorded his A. DEWA ZUNI stamp, named him the elder brother of Don C. Dewa, and listed his part in the 1997 Pueblo Mosaic Jewelry Convocation at the School of American Research in Santa Fe. [3]
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.