Bryant Waatsa Jr. — Zuni Silversmith
Bryant Waatsa Jr. is a Zuni needlepoint and cluster jeweler who learned the work from his father, Bryant Waatsa Sr. Bille Hougart's Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks lists him as Zuni, born 1955, working in needlepoint, cluster work and inlay, and records that he worked for the Gallup Indian Trading Company (Hougart 2022, p. 328). Gregory Schaaf's American Indian Jewelry I also lists him as Zuni, working in needlepoint, cluster and inlay jewelry, with his father as his teacher (Schaaf 2003, p. 317).
Theda and Michael Bassman's Zuni Jewelry shows an unfinished needlepoint necklace of his, the turquoise set into bezels soldered onto a flat silver plate (Bassman and Bassman 2006, p. 8), and two needlepoint rings he made in the 1980s (Bassman and Bassman 2006, p. 45). Mark Bahti's Silver + Stone, writing in 2007, noted that he occasionally worked silver (Bahti 2007, p. 192).
His hallmark
Hougart gives B. W., B. W. ZUNI, B. W. JR. and B. WAATSA, and a shared mark, E. B. W. (Hougart 2022, p. 328). Schaaf records B.W., B.W. JR. and B. Waatsa, Zuni (Schaaf 2003, p. 317).
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.
- 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.
- Bahti, Mark. Silver + Stone: Profiles of American Indian Jewelers. Tucson: Rio Nuevo Publishers, 2007.
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.