Chalmers Day — Hopi Silversmith
Chalmers Day learned his craft from Preston Monongye. Margaret Nickelson Wright's Hopi Silver, a register of Hopi smiths and their hallmarks, records that he "Started in Manpower Class, Phoenix, taught by Preston Monongye," later worked for him, and began silverwork in 1976 (Wright 2003, p. 91).
Bille Hougart's Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks lists him as "Chalmers Day (1946-; Hopi)," active since the 1970s, and describes his work as "Mosaic and pictorial inlay (mid 1970s to early 1980s); overlay; carving," adding that he is "A student of Preston Monongye" and a "Multiple award winner" (Hougart 2022, p. 102).
His hallmark
Wright shows two dated marks: one from 1981, and a cloud mark from 1982 with the lettering C. DAY (Wright 2003, p. 91). Hougart gives his marks as "A parrot beak; C; C. DAY; Chalmers Day; a cloud" (Hougart 2022, p. 102).
Own a piece with this mark, or know more about this artist? Contact T.Skies.
References
- Wright, Margaret Nickelson. Hopi Silver: The History and Hallmarks of Hopi Silversmithing. Revised edition. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 2003.
- Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks: Silversmiths, Designers, Guilds and Traders. 5th edition. Washington, DC: BilleHougartBooks, 2022.
- Tryk, Sheila. Santa Fe Indian Market: Showcase of Native American Art. Photography by Mark Nohl; introduction by Allan Houser. Santa Fe, NM: Tierra Publications, in cooperation with SWAIA (Southwestern Association on Indian Affairs), 1993. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 1993.
- 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.
From the Library: Tryk, Santa Fe Indian Market (1993)
1993 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 1993, not today.
Tryk (1993, p. 81) recorded Chalmers Day, Hopi, as a SWAIA fellowship winner who made exquisite overlay silver work, sometimes touched with color inlays, and pictured a bracelet, bolo tie, belt buckle and pin. [3]
From the Library: Schaaf, American Indian Jewelry I (2003)
2003 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2003, not today.
Schaaf (2003) dated his start with Preston Monongye:
“In 1976, Chalmers participated in Preston's jewelry class.”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 133 [4]
Schaaf (2003, p. 133) recorded Chalmers Day as born about 1956, living at Kykotsmovi and Phoenix as of 2003, with a Best of Division at the 1989 Indian Market and the George C. West Memorial Award there in 1990, and his work in the Tanner Collection in Gallup. [4]
Field Notes by Mateo James
I notice a ten-year gap in his birth year. Hougart's listing gives 1946, while Schaaf's 2003 entry gives about 1956. I show both as printed.
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.