Anson & Leticia Wallace — Zuni Silversmith Hallmark

Biography by Mateo James

Hallmark of Anson & Leticia Wallace (Zuni) — photographed by T.Skies

Anson & Leticia Wallace's hallmark as photographed on an authenticated piece. © Turquoise Skies Inc.

Anson and Leticia Wallace are a Zuni husband-and-wife silversmithing team who collaborate and co-stamp their work. Anson's techniques include stamp work, set stones, and channel inlay. They are part of a larger Wallace silversmithing family well represented in the Zuni tradition.

The mark

"Anson Wallace (Zuni). Stamp work; set stones. Channel inlay. He collaborates and co-stamps with his wife Letitia Wallace. Mark: AL W (may have a ©)" — Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022), p. 332.

What is known

The Wallace family is extensively documented in the Zuni silversmithing tradition. Hougart records several related individuals in the same entry cluster:

  • Anselm Wallace (1940–2011; Zuni): Active 1950s–1990s; channel inlay, flower inlay designs; shared stamps with wife Rosita Wallace. Marks: R. A. W.; Anselm Wallace Zuni NM (etched); R. A. WALLACEACE (etched or stamped); A. ROSITA-WALLACE.
  • Dawn Wallace (1983–; Chugach-Aleut): Contemporary, fabricated; daughter of Denise Wallace. Multiple award winner. Mark: Dawn Wallace.
  • Denise Wallace (Chugach-Aleut): Active since 1980s; etched/carved fossil ivory, Aleut symbolism, silver, gold; mother of Dawn Wallace. Multiple award winner.
  • Elizabeth (Liz) Wallace (1975–; Navajo/Washoe/Maidu): Enamel work, plique-a-jour, basket-woven silver; daughter of Alan and Kathryn Wallace. Multiple award winner.

Anson and Leticia Wallace's mark "AL W" also appears in the same entry cluster as Anny Locaspino's photo tag "AL STERLING" — that tag most likely refers to an entirely different piece and is not connected to this couple.

No entry for Anson Wallace or Leticia Wallace appears in Adair 1944, Rosnek & Stacey 1976, Bedinger 1973, or Schaaf 2003.

Know more about Anson & Leticia Wallace? Let us know.

References

  • Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022), p. 332.
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