Everett & Mary Teller — Navajo/Diné Silversmith Hallmark
Everett & Mary Teller's hallmark as photographed on an authenticated piece. © Turquoise Skies Inc.
Navajo/Diné · documented in the T.Skies hallmark library
The mark
Per Hougart 5e: The Tellers share a single collaborative hallmark — EMT inside a fish — which stands for their initials (Everett and Mary Teller). Unusually, this stamp is also shared with two additional family members: Cona Teller and Travis Teller. The use of a single family mark across multiple smiths is a documented practice among several Navajo families catalogued by Hougart.
Know more about Everett? Let us know.
References
- Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022), : "Everett Teller (1956–; Navajo). Overlay; inlay, some with set stones; jewelry; hollowware. Shares the stamp with his wife Mary C. Teller and also with Cona Teller and Travis Teller. Multiple award winner. Mark: EMT (inside a fish)." Also: "Mary C. Teller (Navajo). Overlay; inlay, some with set stones; jewelry; hollowware. Shares the stamp with her husband [Everett Teller], and also with Cona Teller and Travis Teller. Multiple award winner. Mark: EMT (inside a fish)."
- Schaaf, Gregory. American Indian Jewelry I: 1,200 Artist Biographies (2003) — Everett Teller and Mary C. Teller both appear in the index.
- Bassman, Theda. The Beauty of Navajo Jewelry. Photography by Gene Balzer. Walnut, California: Kiva Publishing, 1997. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 1997.
- Jacka, Lois Essary. Navajo Jewelry: A Legacy of Silver and Stone. Photographs by Jerry Jacka. Flagstaff: Northland Publishing, 1995. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 1995.
- 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: Bassman, The Beauty of Navajo Jewelry (1997)
1997 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 1997, not today.
Bassman (1997) pictured a pin by the couple:
“Stampwork with a Chinese turquoise stone by Mary and Everett Teller.”
— Bassman (1997), p. 32 [1]
From the Library: Jacka, Navajo Jewelry: A Legacy of Silver and Stone (1995)
1995 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 1995, not today.
Lois Essary Jacka, writing in 1995:
“Everett Teller does the cutting and fabricating of the pieces he and his wife make. Mary designs them, does the lapidary, and makes the handbraided silver straps for bolas and necklaces, each piece of which is meticulously soldered together.”
— Jacka (1995), p. 97 [2]
On the straps, Jacka recorded in 1995:
“It takes twenty-four to thirty hours to make the silver wire, then two or three very long days to make one strap.”
— Jacka (1995), p. 97 [2]
From the Library: Schaaf, American Indian Jewelry I (2003)
2003 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2003, not today.
Schaaf (2003), in the entry for the Hopi smith Eddie Scott Kohtalawva, named
“Mary and Everett Teller, Navajo jewelers from Lukachukai”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 206 [3]
Schaaf (2003) added:
“Scott went on to share Hopi silversmithing techniques”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 206 [3]
Schaaf (2003) entered him as
“Everett Teller (stamps EMT inside a fish), (collaborates with Mary Teller)”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 304 [3]
Schaaf (2003, p. 304) recorded Mary C. Teller as active from about 1972 in cutout jewelry, miniature pots and tea sets and pictorial textiles, taught by her mother Margaret Bochinclonny, and Everett Teller, born in 1956 at Chinle and living at Lukachukai, as active from about 1988; they are the parents of Tanya, Terry and Travis Teller. [3]
Everett and Mary Teller told Schaaf (2003):
“Our most distinguished pieces are the handmade chain-linked necklaces and bolo cords made from silver wire.”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 304 [3]
Schaaf's 2003 hallmark index gives EMT to the couple:
“EMT (Everett Teller, Mary Teller)”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 296 [3]
Field Notes by Mateo James
I notice this page says Schaaf lists the Tellers only in its index. Schaaf's 2003 register in fact gives both Everett and Mary full biographies on page 304, which I have added here.
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.
Individual profile: Everett Teller
- Cona Teller — shared stamp EMT (fish) — Teller family member