Chester Kahn — Navajo/Diné Silversmith Hallmark — T.Skies Co-Op
Hallmark documented in: Hougart, Schaaf (1200 Bios), art-amerindien.com. Rendered from the documented mark, not a photograph.
Chester Kahn — Navajo Silversmith
Chester Kahn (1936–2019; Navajo) was active in jewelry from the 1960s until his death. A multi-disciplinary artist, he worked as a painter, illustrator, and silversmith. His silverwork encompassed traditional approaches: stamp work, stone settings, and fabricated jewelry.
Kahn studied with Charles Loloma and worked alongside Joe Tanner. He received the 2008 Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial Living Treasure award and was a multiple award winner throughout his career.
He was the nephew of John and Tom Burnside and the brother of Franklin Kahn. (The Burnside family represents one of the major lineages in Navajo silversmithing; see also Tom Burnsides.) His brother Franklin Kahn (Navajo) also worked as an artist and silversmith in the traditional style.
The Marks
"Chester Kahn (1936-2019; Navajo). Active in jewelry since 1960s. Traditional; stamp work; stone sets; fabricated jewelry. Artist, painter, illustrator and silversmith. Studied with Charles Loloma; worked with Joe Tanner. 2008 Inter-tribal Indian Ceremonial Living Treasure award. Multiple award winner. Nephew of John and Tom Burnside. Brother of [Franklin] Kahn. Mark: C K (conjoined, since about 1970); C KAHN"
— Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022), p. 166.
The primary marks are C K (letters conjoined, in use since approximately 1970) and C KAHN. His brother Franklin Kahn used the mark K K DINE.
References
- Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. Washington, DC: BilleHougartBooks, 2022. p. 166.
Know more about Chester Kahn or the Burnside family lineage? Contact T.Skies.
From the Library: Bassman, The Beauty of Navajo Jewelry (1997)
1997 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 1997, not today.
Bassman (1997) pictured earrings by him:
“Shadow box overlay and silver stampwork with orange spiny oyster shell made by Chester Kahn.”
— Bassman (1997), p. 29 [1]
Among his other earrings she listed (Bassman 1997):
“Textured stampwork with dangle of Damale turquoise made by Chester Kahn.”
— Bassman (1997), p. 29 [1]
Bassman (1997) pictured a 14-karat gold bola tie of his, glossing the Dontso as a water figure:
“Cast and stamped bola tie with Dontso figure* and a Persian turquoise stone, made by Chester Kahn.”
— Bassman (1997), p. 49 [1]
Bassman (1997, p. 65) pictured a stampwork and textured silver necklace and an overlay and stampwork bracelet by Chester Kahn, all set with Royal Web Gemstone. [1]
From the Library: Schaaf, American Indian Jewelry I (2003)
2003 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2003, not today.
Schaaf (2003) recorded his marks:
“(stamps CK, C Kahn), (collaborated sometimes with Roland Long)”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 201 [2]
Schaaf (2003, p. 201) recorded Chester Kahn as Navajo, born in 1936 at Pine Springs, a brother of Franklin Kahn and a nephew of Tom Burnsides, John Burnsides and Mabel Burnsides Meyer, schooled at Shiprock, the Stewart Indian boarding school in Nevada and the University of Arizona, later a teacher and educational coordinator, who painted a mural for the Gallup Indian Community Center and whose work was in the Arizona State Museum. [2]
Schaaf (2003, p. 201) wrote that he was a smith for the White Hogan along with Kenneth Begay, won awards at the Inter-tribal Indian Ceremonial in Gallup, the Arizona State Fair and the Navajo Tribal Fair, and sold through Tanner's Indian Arts in Gallup. [2]
Schaaf's 2003 hallmark index gives CK to two makers:
“CK (Chester Kahn, Carrie Katsineh)”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 199 [2]
From the Library: Dubin, North American Indian Jewelry and Adornment (1999)
1999 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 1999, not today.
Speaking to Dubin for her 1999 book, Chester Kahn recalled the early smiths in his family: traditionally,
“going back to my grandfather's and uncles' era, they produced most of their own tools and stamps and then had to make the jewelry.”
— Dubin (1999), p. 484 [3]
Dubin (1999, p. 475) pictured a 1993 silver belt buckle on which the lapidary Roland Long and Chester Kahn, as silversmith, inlaid Royal Web turquoise, shell and coral in an image of Appaloosa horses. [3]
According to Dubin (1999, p. 521), Kahn was among the student artists of the Southwest Indian Art Project, sponsored by the Rockefeller Foundation and held in the summers of 1960, 1961 and 1962 at the University of Arizona in Tucson, where he was taught by Charles Loloma and Lloyd Kiva New. [3]
Speaking to Dubin for her 1999 book, Chester Kahn said of the project:
“We were introduced to modern techniques and modern concepts, exposed to avenues of contemporary ideas and concepts. And from then on we started to grow.”
— Dubin (1999), p. 521 [3]
Field Notes by Mateo James
I notice the books start his jewelry at different times. This page, following Hougart, has him active from the 1960s, while Schaaf's 2003 entry lists him as active from about the 1950s. I show both as printed.
Sources
- Bassman, Theda. The Beauty of Navajo Jewelry. Photography by Gene Balzer. Walnut, California: Kiva Publishing, 1997. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 1997.
- 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.
- Dubin, Lois Sherr. North American Indian Jewelry and Adornment: From Prehistory to the Present. Original photography by Togashi, Paul Jones, and others. New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1999. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 1999.
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.