Esther Panteah — Zuni Inlay Artist
Esther Panteah (born 1946) is a Zuni silversmith active since the 1970s. The Hougart record describes her as a maker of contemporary mosaic jewelry — a style that applies traditional Zuni inlay techniques within a modern design sensibility.
Esther Panteah shares her hallmarks with Martin T. Panteah. Two marks are associated with their work: a stamp in the Panteah name alone and a stamp reading MARTIN & ESTHER PANTEAH, explicitly identifying both artists.
The Mark
“M. T. PANTEAH; MARTIN & ESTHER PANTEAH”
— Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022).
Two marks are recorded: M. T. PANTEAH and the fuller MARTIN & ESTHER PANTEAH stamp that names both artists. The latter is among the more explicit collaborative credits in the Zuni hallmark record.
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- Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. Washington, DC: BilleHougartBooks, 2022.
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) pictured a bracelet by Esther and Martin Panteah:
“Raised inlay bracelet of coral made in the 1980s by Esther and Martin Panteah.”
— Bassman and Bassman (2006), p. 31 [1]
Sources
- Bassman, Theda, and Michael Bassman. Zuni Jewelry. Revised and Expanded 3rd Edition. Photographs by Gene Balzer. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing, 2006 (first published 1992). Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 2006.
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.
Name card shown; hallmark photo to come. © Turquoise Skies Inc.