Cordelia Casuse — Hopi Silversmith & Hallmark
Hallmark documented in: Hougart, Schaaf (1200 Bios), Wright (Hopi Silver). Rendered from the documented mark, not a photograph.
Cordelia Casuse (1970–) is a Hopi silversmith active since the 1990s. She works in the overlay technique — a hallmark of Hopi silversmithing — in which two layers of silver are joined, with designs cut into the top layer to reveal a darkened or textured surface beneath.
The record does not provide additional details about her biography, family, or awards.
The Mark
“CC (may be conjoined)”
— Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022), p. 79.
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- Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. Washington, DC: BilleHougartBooks, 2022.
From the Library: Wright, Hopi Silver (2003)
2003 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2003, not today.
According to Wright (2003, p. 109), Cordelia Casuse, of the Sun clan at Shungopavi, began silverwork in 1993 and learned from Wilson Mowa; Wright labels her mark 'Initials'. [1]
From the Library: Schaaf, American Indian Jewelry I (2003)
2003 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2003, not today.
Schaaf (2003, p. 105) recorded Cordelia Casuse as Hopi/Navajo, born in 1970 and active from about 1993 in silver overlay, living at Shungopavi on Second Mesa as of 2003; a daughter of Richard Casuse and Shirley Casuse and a sister of Iva Lee Casuse, she named Wilson Mowa, Sr. as her teacher, and her favorite designs included the sun, bears and lizards. [2]
Schaaf's 2003 hallmark index gives the initials CC to her alone:
“CC (Cordelia Casuse)”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 99 [2]
Sources
- Wright, Margaret Nickelson. Hopi Silver: The History and Hallmarks of Hopi Silversmithing. Revised edition. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 2003. Originally published by Northland Publishing. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 2003.
- 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.
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.