Carlton Jamon — Silversmith
Overview
Carlton Jamon (1962–) is a Zuni metalsmith active since the 1980s, known for contemporary work spanning silver, gold, steel, and titanium. His techniques include mosaic, engraving, hand-wrought fabrication, and hollow fetish bears. He collaborates with his wife Julie Marie Jamon. He is the father of Alexander Jamon and the son of Ben and Cornelia Jamon. A multiple award winner and a founding member of the Zuni Cultural Arts Council. His mark is "Carlton Jamon" in etched script.
Living artist; extra care taken for accuracy.
The Mark
"Carlton Jamon (1962-; Zuni). Active since 1980s. Contemporary; metalsmith; silver, gold, steel, titanium; mosaic; engraved; hand wrought; hollow fetish bears. Collaborates with his wife Julie Marie Jamon. Father of Alexander Jamon. Son of Ben and Cornelia Jamon. Multiple award winner. A founding member of the Zuni Cultural Arts Council.6 Mark: Carlton Jamon (etched script)"
— Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022).
The mark as documented in Hougart's hallmark reference: Carlton Jamon (etched script).
References
- Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. Washington, DC: BilleHougartBooks, 2022.
- Bahti, Mark. Silver + Stone: Profiles of American Indian Jewelers. Tucson: Rio Nuevo Publishers, 2007. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 2007.
- Baxter, Paula A., with Allison Bird-Romero. Encyclopedia of Native American Jewelry: A Guide to History, People, and Terms. Phoenix: Oryx Press, 2000. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 2000.
- 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.
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From the Library: Bahti, Silver + Stone: Profiles of American Indian Jewelers (2007)
2007 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2007, not today.
According to Bahti (2007, p. 62), Carlton's parents, Ben and Cornelia Jamon, were jewelers known for a link bracelet in which each link was a single elongated oval turquoise surrounded by half-round wire set on edge; his sisters Diana, Shelly and Brenda and his brother Benjamin all made jewelry too. [1]
According to Bahti (2007, p. 62), Carlton began apprenticing with his grandmother Winnie Jamon at fourteen, starting with filing and buffing; his first piece was a plain ring with a half-round wire shank and a single turquoise in a plain bezel. [1]
According to Bahti (2007, p. 64), Julie and Carlton collaborated on the hollow silver bear pendants that gave their business, Silver Bear, its name, while each also made individual work. [1]
Carlton Jamon told Bahti (2007) the Zuni Cultural Arts Council grew out of a cold, windy show where the artists froze outside the tent while the buyers stayed inside:
“We decided to have a show at home to show others how it should be done: treating artists with respect.”
— Bahti (2007), p. 64 [1]
According to Bahti (2007, p. 65), the council gave Zuni artists a yearly retail market and, more important, workshops on pricing and marketing their work and working with traders and dealers. [1]
According to Bahti (2007, p. 65), the Jamons' youngest son, Alex, drew and made his first necklace at about eleven and won the Young Artist award at the Museum of Northern Arizona show in 1999. [1]
From the Library: Baxter, Encyclopedia of Native American Jewelry (2000)
2000 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2000, not today.
Baxter (2000) described his training differently:
“Carlton Jamon’s grandmother and great-grandmother were noted silversmiths. Self-taught, Jamon works with his wife Julie Marie (Navajo); they have been creating jewelry since 1984.”
— Baxter (2000), p. 90 [2]
Baxter (2000) recorded his awards up to her writing:
“Jamon won many awards between 1991 and 1996 at the Gallup Inter-tribal Ceremonial, Eight Northern Pueblos Show, and at the Santa Fe Indian Market.”
— Baxter (2000), p. 91 [2]
As of 2000, Baxter described his community role:
“Jamon is a charter member of the Zuni Cultural Arts Council, and is one of the organizers of the annual Zuni Cultural Arts Expo held at Zuni in August.”
— Baxter (2000), p. 91 [2]
From the Library: Schaaf, American Indian Jewelry I (2003)
2003 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2003, not today.
Schaaf (2003) wrote of the couple:
“Their most popular pieces are their hollowware bears.”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 192 [3]
Schaaf (2003, p. 191) recorded Carlton Jamon as Zuni, working with his wife Julie Marie Jamon from 1984, a founding member of the Zuni Cultural Arts Council, showing at Indian Market from 1991, with bears and Butterfly Maidens among his favorite designs and his work at the Silverbear Gallery at Zuni and the Ray Tracey Gallery. [3]
Field Notes by Mateo James
Our profile follows Bahti (2007, p. 62), who says Carlton began apprenticing with his grandmother Winnie Jamon at fourteen. Baxter's 2000 encyclopedia calls him self-taught, while noting that his grandmother and great-grandmother were noted silversmiths (p. 90). I show both accounts rather than choose one.
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.
I notice Schaaf's 2003 entry places his family a generation differently. This page, following Hougart and Bahti, names Cornelia Jamon as his mother, while Schaaf calls her his grandmother and Winnie Jamon his great-grandmother, and gives his birth as about 1965 rather than 1962. I show Schaaf's account as printed beside ours.