Edith Tsabetsaye — Zuni Silversmith
Edith Tsabetsaye is a needlepoint jeweler. Paula A. Baxter's Encyclopedia of Native American Jewelry lists her as "Tsabetsaye, Edith (1940– , Zuni)," self-taught, and records that she began making her needlepoint turquoise jewelry in 1958 and turned to jewelry full time around 1973 (Baxter 2000, p. 181).
Her stones are cut and ground to rounded forms that rise above serrated bezels, and Baxter singles out her crescent-shaped curved stones. She has made concha belts, bracelets and rings, but necklaces are the form collectors prize most. Baxter records many awards at the Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial, where she has entered since 1962, and a Best of Show at the SWAIA Indian Market in 1980 (Baxter 2000, p. 181).
Bille Hougart's Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks lists her as "Edith Tsabetsaye (1940-; Zuni)," active since the 1960s in raised, curved needlepoint, cluster work and inlay, in silver and gold. Hougart adds Best-in-Show awards at the Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial in 1977 and 1984 and its Living Treasure award in 2005, and names her brother, Roger Tsabetsaye (Hougart 2022, p. 316).
Theda and Michael Bassman's Zuni Jewelry shows cluster-work bracelets, a bow guard and pins of Kingman, Morenci and Lone Mountain turquoise that she made between 1968 and 1973 and kept in her own collection, along with a needlepoint ring captioned as a First Prize winner (Bassman and Bassman 2006, p. 19). Nancy N. Schiffer's Turquoise Jewelry shows a necklace and earrings set of hers (Schiffer 2008, p. 56).
Her hallmark
Hougart gives her marks as E. T. and E Z T, on a square or rounded plate (Hougart 2022, p. 316).
Under her married name the mark is different. Hougart's entry for Leonard Lonjose names his wife as "Edith Lonjose (Tsabetsaye)" and gives the mark they shared as L + E LONJOSE ZUNI, etched, with L + E and ZUNI inside a cloud symbol (Hougart 2022, p. 197).
Own a piece with this mark, or know more about this artist? Contact T.Skies.
References
- Baxter, Paula A., with Allison Bird-Romero. Encyclopedia of Native American Jewelry: A Guide to History, People, and Terms. Phoenix: Oryx Press, 2000.
- Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks: Silversmiths, Designers, Guilds and Traders. 5th edition. Washington, DC: BilleHougartBooks, 2022.
- Bassman, Theda, and Michael Bassman. Zuni Jewelry. Photographs by Gene Balzer. Revised and expanded 3rd edition. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing, 2006.
- Schiffer, Nancy N. Turquoise Jewelry. Revised 4th edition. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing, 2008.
- 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, p. 309) recorded Edith Tsabetsaye as Zuni, born about 1940, active from about 1962 in raised needlepoint, petitpoint and cluster jewelry, with Best of Show at the Inter-tribal Indian Ceremonial in 1977 and 1984 and Best of Show at Indian Market in 1980. [5]
Schaaf (2003) wrote:
“She innovated raised needlepoint in which the stones are shaped like arcing rainbows.”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 309 [5]
Schaaf's 2003 hallmark index gives EZT to one maker:
“EZT (Edith Tsabetsaye)”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 296 [5]
From the Library: Bassman and Bassman, Zuni Jewelry (2006)
2006 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2006, not today.
Bassman and Bassman (2006) photographed one of her needlepoint pins being made, step by step:
“Raw turquoise is set on a stick with jewelry wax. The turquoise or coral is ground to the desired finish.”
— Bassman and Bassman (2006), p. 9 [3]
Bassman and Bassman (2006, p. 9) went on: the star is soldered on the silver plate, then the silver ball in the center and the needlepoint bezels; the turquoise or coral is set in the bezels and the surplus silver removed. They showed the finished pin in both turquoise and coral. [3]
Bassman and Bassman (2006) also pictured a bola tie by her:
“Turquoise needlepoint bola tie with matching tips made of Lone Mountain turquoise in the 1980s by Edith Tsabetsaye.”
— Bassman and Bassman (2006), p. 31 [3]
Bassman and Bassman (2006) also pictured a ring from her own collection:
“Oval ring made in 1973 by Edith Tsabetsaye, from her collection.”
— Bassman and Bassman (2006), p. 37 [3]
Motif names follow the captions in Bassman and Bassman (2006), an outside observers' record; the Apache people are the authority on the meaning of their own sacred figures.
Bassman and Bassman (2006) pictured a 1973 bola tie by her:
“Inlay of Apache Mountain Spirit Dancer and Kingman turquoise cluster made of mother-of-pearl, turquoise, jet, coral and melon shell in 1973 by Edith Tsabetsaye, from her collection.”
— Bassman and Bassman (2006), p. 33 [3]
Bassman and Bassman (2006) pictured her prize-winning needlepoint set:
“Needlepoint necklace and earrings made of Lone Mountain turquoise by Edith Tsabetsaye in 1990. This was a First Prize winner at the Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial.”
— Bassman and Bassman (2006), p. 40 [3]
Bassman and Bassman (2006, p. 42) also pictured a coral needlepoint pin she made in 1991, captioned as a First Prize winner, in a group of coral pieces shown courtesy of the Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial. [3]
Bassman and Bassman (2006, p. 62) also pictured a Lone Mountain turquoise cluster squash blossom necklace she made in 1968, with two Lone Mountain turquoise pins of 1972, all from her own collection. [3]
Field Notes by Mateo James
I notice the books describe her training differently. Baxter calls her self-taught, while Schaaf's 2003 register names her parents, Joe and Susan Tsabetsaye, as her teachers. 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.