Benjamin Piaso — Navajo Silversmith Hallmark
Benjamin Piaso's hallmark as photographed on an authenticated piece. © Turquoise Skies Inc.
Navajo · documented in the T.Skies hallmark library
Benjamin Piaso Jr. is a Navajo silversmith born in 1964 and active since 1980, documented in Hougart 5th ed. within a large Piaso-family cluster spanning at least seven Navajo silversmiths.
The mark
The Hougart entry is partially degraded in the source scan, but the readable text gives:
The mark is B Piaso Jr — a script-style mark incorporating the generational suffix. This distinguishes him from other Piaso-family silversmiths who use initials only (e.g., E. PIASO, S.P., SAM PIASO).
What is known
Benjamin Piaso Jr. began working in silver at approximately age 16 (active since 1980 with a birth year of 1964). His "Jr." designation indicates his father was likely also named Benjamin (or a senior with the surname Piaso), though Hougart does not explicitly name his father. The Piaso family is one of the larger Navajo silversmithing clusters documented in Hougart, including:
- Betty Piaso (Navajo): mark BETTY PIASO
- Cindy Piaso (Navajo): traditional style, large turquoise nugget bracelets, coral branches, applique; mark C P (conjoined)
- E. Piaso (Navajo): active since the 1980s; mark E. PIASO
- Joe Piaso, Jr. (Navajo): traditional stamp work; mark J. Piasa Jr. (script, inside a feather)
- Sam Piaso (Navajo): active since the 1980s; marks S. P.; SAM P; SAM PIASO
- Thompson Piaso (Navajo): shadowbox; multiple award winner; marks P; T; T P (conjoined); Thompson Piaso (engraved script)
No entry for Benjamin Piaso Jr. was found in Schaaf (2003), Adair (1944), Rosnek (1976), or Bedinger (1973).
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References
- Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022).