Connie Tsosie Gaussoin — Picuris/Navajo Silversmith
Connie Tsosie Gaussoin works in fabricated and tufa-cast jewelry. Bille Hougart's Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks lists her as "Connie Tsosie Gaussoin (1948-; Picuris/Navajo)," active since the 1970s, in silver, gold and mixed metals, and records that she is a "Multiple award winner for jewelry, including the Joe H. Quintana Memorial Award for Excellence in Traditional Jewelry." She works with her sons, David Gaussoin and Wayne Nez Gaussoin (Hougart 2022, p. 127).
Nancy N. Schiffer's Turquoise Jewelry shows a tufa-cast sterling silver bracelet of hers, with turquoise in a 14 carat gold bezel and coral beads, crediting her as "Picuris Pueblo and Navajo" (Schiffer 2008, p. 33). Paula A. Baxter's Encyclopedia of Native American Jewelry lists her among contemporary Pueblo artists as "Connie Tsosie Gaussoin (Picuris/Navajo) and her sons David and Wayne Nez" (Baxter 2000, p. 143).
Her hallmark
Hougart gives her marks as a deer head, with NAV below it or with C T G, and C T G (Hougart 2022, p. 127).
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References
- Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks: Silversmiths, Designers, Guilds and Traders. 5th edition. Washington, DC: BilleHougartBooks, 2022.
- Schiffer, Nancy N. Turquoise Jewelry. Revised 4th edition. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing, 2008.
- Baxter, Paula A., with Allison Bird-Romero. Encyclopedia of Native American Jewelry: A Guide to History, People, and Terms. Phoenix: Oryx Press, 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.
From the Library: Schaaf, American Indian Jewelry I (2003)
2003 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2003, not today.
Schaaf (2003) entered her as
“Connie Tsosie Gaussoin (stamps deer head symbol with NAV below)”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 161 [4]
Schaaf (2003, p. 161) recorded Connie Tsosie Gaussoin as Navajo/Picuris, active from about 1971, a founding member of the Pueblo V Design Institute in Santa Fe and a jewelry judge for SWAIA's Indian Market and the New Mexico State Fair, with her work in the Millicent Rogers Museum in Taos and the Museum of Man in San Diego. [4]
Schaaf (2003, p. 161) named her as the teacher of her son David Gaussoin and, with David, of her son Wayne Nez Gaussoin. [4]
Schaaf (2003, p. 312) named the Navajo jeweler Carl Tsosie, Sr., born about 1922 and living in Santa Fe, as the father of Connie Tsosie Gaussoin and the maternal grandfather of David Gaussoin. [4]
Schaaf (2003, p. 314) named Connie Tsosie Gaussoin as the jewelry teacher of her brother, the sculptor Robert Dale Tsosie. [4]
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.