Elvira Bill — Navajo/Diné 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/Diné · 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."

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.