Eugene Crawford
Overview
Eugene Crawford (born 1936) is a Navajo silversmith active since the 1950s, working in traditional styles.
He is the father of Mark and Michael Roanhorse (Crawford). (The Y. CRAWFORD mark documented adjacent in our reference books belongs to Yvonne Crawford, a separate entry with no stated relation.)
The Mark
"Eugene Crawford (1936-; Navajo). Active since 1950s. Traditional. Father of Mark and Michael Roanhorse (Crawford)."
— Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022).
References
- Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. Washington, DC: BilleHougartBooks, 2022.
- Bahti, Mark. Silver + Stone: Profiles of American Indian Jewelers. Tucson: Rio Nuevo Publishers, 2007. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 2007.
- 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.
Know more about this artist? Contact T.Skies.
From the Library: Bahti, Silver + Stone: Profiles of American Indian Jewelers (2007)
2007 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2007, not today.
According to Bahti (2007, p. 35), Eugene Crawford taught all five of his children silversmithing. He had traveled widely making and selling sand-cast squash-blossom necklaces and concha belts set with large-nugget turquoise, showed silverwork at the Santa Fe Indian Market about 1970, and was also an accomplished leather worker. [1]
According to Bahti (2007, p. 35), during the boom of the mid-1970s he ran a workshop in Gallup where as many as five Navajo silversmiths carried out his designs. [1]
According to Bahti (2007, p. 36), he moved on to found a construction company in 1984, leaving the jewelry business to his three sons. [1]
From the Library: Schaaf, American Indian Jewelry I (2003)
2003 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2003, not today.
Schaaf (2003), who also called him Gene Crawford, described his mark:
“signs GC or G.C. over symbol”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 124 [2]
Schaaf (2003, p. 124) recorded Eugene Crawford at Crystal, New Mexico, as a silversmith and leather worker, the husband of Georgia Crawford and father of Mark Roanhorse Crawford, Duane Crawford and Michael Crawford, with Crystal Mountain Studio as the family's gallery. [2]
Schaaf's 2003 hallmark index lists GC for two makers:
“GC (Geneva Chavez, Eugene Crawford)”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 99 [2]
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.