Bonnie Quam
Overview
Bonnie Quam (born 1936; our reference library marks her death date as unknown) is a Zuni lapidary artist active since the 1950s, working petit point and needlepoint. A stretch of her entry records a Gallup Ceremonial prize.
She shared her mark — a frog, which per our reference books may appear on a plate — with her husband John Quam, so the mark identifies the household, not one hand.
Collector's caution: the frog mark is shared — Hougart documents that Bonnie Quam shared it with her husband John Quam. A piece bearing the frog cannot be attributed to either artist alone on the mark's evidence.
The Mark
"Bonnie Quam (1936-?; Zuni). Active since 1950s. Lapidary; petit point; needlepoint. Wife of John Quam with whom she shared the mark. Gallup [Inter-Tribal Indian] Ceremonial prize …. Mark: A frog (may be on a plate?)"
— Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022).
The mark as documented in Hougart's hallmark reference: A frog (may be on a plate?) — shared with her husband John Quam.
References
- Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. Washington, DC: BilleHougartBooks, 2022.
- Schiffer, Nancy N. Turquoise Jewelry. Revised 4th ed. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing, 2008. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 2008.
Know more about this artist? Contact T.Skies.
From the Library: Schiffer, Turquoise Jewelry (2008)
2008 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2008, not today.
Schiffer (2008, p. 36) illustrated a petit point bracelet by Bonnie Quam and Pete Gonzalez, Zuni, 1960. [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.