Elvira Bill — Navajo Silversmith Hallmark

Biography by Mateo James

Hallmark of Elvira Bill (Navajo) — photographed by T.Skies

Elvira Bill's hallmark as photographed on an authenticated piece. © Turquoise Skies Inc.

Navajo · documented in the T.Skies hallmark library

Elvira Bill is a Navajo silversmith active since the 2010s, working in a retro style with bump-outs and deep stamp work. She is the daughter of Emerson Bill and Nora Tahe-Bill. Her mother Nora Tahe (also documented as Nora Tahe-Bill) works in heavy-gauge bracelets with stamp work and bump-outs; Nora's mark is NORA. Emerson Bill works in retro-style cast work and carinated bracelets in silver and copper.

The Bill and Tahe family connection is explicit in Hougart: Milford Tahe is described as the husband of Emerson Bill and father of Elvira Bill, establishing a three-generation family silversmithing cluster (Milford Tahe + Nora Tahe-Bill; their child Elvira Bill; and Emerson Bill as Nora's husband/Elvira's father). Note: the source scan is partially garbled around these entries; the relationships above are reconstructed from multiple cross-references within the Bill/Tahe section.

The mark

Per Hougart: Mark: ELA BILL (or "ELVIRA BILL" — source scan partially garbled; "EL A BILL" also appears).

What is known

  • Nation: Navajo
  • Active since 2010s
  • Technique: retro style; bump-outs; deep stamp work
  • Daughter of Emerson Bill and Nora Tahe-Bill
  • Mark: ELA BILL / ELVIRA BILL (verify against printed book — source scan degraded)
  • No birth year or awards documented

Know more about Elvira? Let us know.

References

  • Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022), p. 63 (approx.). "Elvira Bill (Navajo). Active since 2010s. Retro. Bump-outs; deep stamp work. Daughter of Emerson and Nora Tahe. Mark: ELA BILL." Cross-reference: Emerson Bill entry (same page): "Emerson Bill (Navajo). Retro style; cast work; carinated bracelets; silver, copper. Married to Nora Tahe-Bill. Father of Elvira Bill. Mark: Emerson [script]." Milford Tahe cross-reference (nearby): "Milford Tahe (Navajo). Stamp work. … Mother of Elvira Bill. Wife of Emerson Bill."