Floyd Namingha Lomakuyvaya — Hopi Silversmith
Floyd Namingha Lomakuyvaya is a Hopi silversmith active since the 1970s. He works in overlay — the signature Hopi silversmithing technique in which a top layer of silver with cut-out designs is fused to a backing layer, creating depth and shadow through the contrast between polished and oxidized surfaces.
Floyd Namingha Lomakuyvaya is the brother of Fletchard Namingha and is related to Dan Namingha, situating him within a family lineage of Hopi artists working across multiple media.
The Mark
“Antelope rattle”
— Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022).
The hallmark is a pictographic stamp depicting an antelope rattle — a symbol drawn from Hopi ceremonial culture. Pictographic marks of this kind are characteristic of Hopi overlay silversmiths, who often use clan symbols or ceremonial objects as personal identifiers.
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- Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. Washington, DC: BilleHougartBooks, 2022.
From the Library: Wright, Hopi Silver (2003)
2003 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2003, not today.
According to Wright (2003, p. 87), Floyd Namingha Lomakuyvaya, of the Strap clan at Shungopavi, began silverwork in 1973 and learned from Kenneth Kuwanvayouma; Wright lists him as a cousin of Raymie Namingha and labels his mark 'Antelope Rattle'. [1]
From the Library: Bassman, The Beauty of Hopi Jewelry (1993)
1993 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 1993, not today.
Bassman (1993, p. 1) pictured a reversible pendant made in 1992 by Floyd Namingha, with a sun on one side and a maze on the other. [2]
Bassman (1993, p. 32) pictured a concha belt of seventeen small conchas of different designs made in 1974 by Floyd Namingha. [2]
From the Library: Schaaf, American Indian Jewelry I (2003)
2003 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2003, not today.
Schaaf (2003, p. 240) recorded Floyd Namingha as Hopi, active from about 1969 in overlay jewelry, a son of Franklin Namingha, a brother of Fletchard Namingha and a cousin of Raymie Namingha, and described his hallmark as a rattle with an open block T. [3]
Field Notes by Mateo James
I notice the books start his silverwork at different times. Wright records that he began in 1973, while Schaaf's 2003 entry lists him as active from about 1969. I show both as printed.
Sources
- Wright, Margaret Nickelson. Hopi Silver: The History and Hallmarks of Hopi Silversmithing. Revised edition. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 2003. Originally published by Northland Publishing. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 2003.
- Bassman, Theda. The Beauty of Hopi Jewelry. Photography by Gene Balzer. Walnut, California: Kiva Publishing, 1993. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 1993.
- 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.
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.