Fred Peshlakai — Navajo/Diné Silversmith & His Hallmarks

Fred Peshlakai (1896–1974) was a Navajo silversmith and teacher; a 1975 caption calls him one of the first known Navajo smiths to stamp his work with a hallmark, his initials FP. In the 1930s he taught jewelry classes at the Fort Wingate Boarding School, where Schaaf names Kenneth Begay as his star student. His brother Frank also stamped FP, and the hallmark books disagree on whose arrow points which way, so the initials alone do not settle which Peshlakai made a piece.

The mark

Fred Peshlakai stamped FP on an arrow. He told Arthur Woodward in February 1937 that he began "about 1934 or 1935," and Woodward noted that he "was vague as to the exact date he began." Before that, he said, he stamped "a small hogan as a trademark." ^[5] A 1975 caption calls him "one of the first known Navajo silversmiths to stamp his work with a hallmark." ^[2]

Schaaf's 2003 register lists a hogan symbol, FP under a deer symbol, FP, and F.P. under a right-pointing arrow, from about 1934. His hogan stamp, Schaaf adds, was sold to Kenneth Begay, who later sold it to John Bonnell, Sr. of White Hogan. ^[6] Hougart's 2022 guide records White Hogan's hogan mark, first used in 1948, as "reportedly acquired from Fred Peshlakai," yet notes in Fred's own entry that "no reputable evidence has surfaced to date" that he used a hogan stamp. ^[9]

Now the caution. His brother Frank stamped FP too, by Schaaf's entry "inside left-pointing arrow or just initials, F.P.," and the same register's index gives FP to Frank Patania, Sr. and Freddie Platero as well. ^[6] Hougart's 2022 guide reads the arrow the other way. It pictures Fred's F P on short and long left-facing arrows, dates the short one to the 1960s through about 1973, and lists no arrow among Frank's marks. It also pictures a fake Fred Peshlakai mark, judges square-P versions "more likely to be Fred than Frank Peshlakai," and says that "assigning items to either brother is highly speculative and requires careful research." ^[9] Two initials, alone, name no one. The arrow does not settle it either: the two books point it opposite ways.

The family

When John Adair met him in Los Angeles, Fred said he had learned the craft from his father "over twenty-five years ago," and that his father "had a regular silver shop and paid more than ten men to help him with his work." Adair introduced him as "the son of Slender Maker of Silver," then hedged in a footnote: "It is quite possible that this man is the nephew and not the son," because in Navajo kinship "the father and the father's brother are called by the same term." ^[3]

Fred gave Woodward his father's name as Ansosi Peshlakai, ^[5] and Schaaf lists Ansosi as a brother of Slender Maker of Silver. ^[6] Bedinger, retelling Adair, has Fred learning from Slender Maker "shortly before his death," which she dates to 1916. ^[8] On his brother the books split: Schaaf names Frank's teacher as Peshlakai Atsidi, and Hougart calls Frank Fred's "younger brother and student." ^{[6] [9]}

The teacher

In the 1930s he taught jewelry classes at the Fort Wingate Boarding School. Schaaf names the star student: Kenneth Begay. In 1934 Fred demonstrated at the World's Fair. ^[6] Baxter calls him an important "bridge" between the smiths of the late nineteenth century and the generation Begay stands for. ^[4]

Schaaf credits him with refining stampwork and filework. His split-shank bracelets, Schaaf writes, "often feature a square center rod that was twisted like a candy cane." ^[6]

Los Angeles

In February 1937 Woodward found him working in an Indian curio store on Hollywood Boulevard. ^[5] Adair found him on Olvera Street, where "he makes Navajo silver for the tourists." ^[3] Ryan and Chambless date his own Los Angeles workshop to around 1938 and name him one of the top customers of Doc Wilson's American Gem Company; Lone Mountain turquoise became his signature stone. ^[1] The 1975 caption puts his best work in the 1940s through 1960, and has him running his own business in Los Angeles and San Francisco. ^[2] Hougart lists him as first-place winner of the 1954 Arts and Crafts exhibit at the Indian Center of Los Angeles. ^[9]

The National Museum of the American Indian holds a bracelet of his, dated about 1934, from the collection of Katherine Harvey. ^[7]

Field Notes by Mateo James

From the Library

What 6 reference books say about Fred Peshlakai, grouped by topic. Every passage names its book and page; full references are under Sources.

These are outside observers' records; Fred Peshlakai's family and the Diné people are the authority on his life and work.

The FP and the hogan8 passages · 4 books

When he began stamping, what came before, and who else stamped FP.

Woodward (1946) recorded Fred and his mark in 1937:

“A modern Navajo smith who stamps his ware FP superimposed upon an arrow is Fred Peshlakai, who in February. 1937 was working in an Indian curio store on Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles.”

Woodward (1946), p. 60 AS OF 1946 ^[5]

On when the mark began, Woodward (1946):

“Fred began stamping his wares thus about 1934 or 1935.”

Woodward (1946), p. 60 AS OF 1946 ^[5]

And what came before it, in Fred's own account to Woodward (1946):

“Prior to that time he said he stamped his wares with a small hogan as a trademark.”

Woodward (1946), p. 60 AS OF 1946 ^[5]

Schaaf (2003, p. 253) recorded Fred Peshlakai's marks as a hogan symbol, FP under a deer symbol, FP, and F.P. under a right-pointing arrow, from about 1934. ^[6]

Schaaf's 2003 hallmark index gives FP to four makers:

“FP (Frank Patania, Sr., Frank Peshlakai, Fred Peshlakai, Freddie Platero)”

Schaaf (2003), p. 250 AS OF 2003 ^[6]

Schaaf (2003, p. 254) wrote that his hogan stamp was sold to Kenneth Begay, who later sold it to John Bonnell, Sr. of White Hogan. ^[6]

According to Baxter (2000, p. 66), hallmarks became common only by the 1970s, but in the 1940s and 1950s Fred Peshlakai and Kenneth Begay, both silversmiths and instructors, already used their initials as hallmarks. ^[4]

The 1975 Turquoise Blue Book, captioning pieces from the Tanner collections, described Fred Peshlakai this way:

“Bracelets, rings and pin, lower right, are by the late Fred Peshlakai, one of the first known Navajo silversmiths to stamp his work with a hallmark, his initials FP.”

Stacey (1975), p. 10 AS OF 1975 ^[2]

Family and first lessons5 passages · 2 books

Slender Maker of Silver, the Peshlakai brothers, and how he learned.

Writing in 1944, Adair (1944) recorded where he found him:

“I have met the son of Slender Maker of Silver; he lives at the present time in Los Angeles, where he makes Navajo silver for the tourists who visit Olvera Street.”

Adair (1944), p. 23 AS OF 1944 ^[3]

And on his training, counted back from the late 1930s, Adair (1944) wrote:

“His name is Fred Peshlakai, and he said that he learned the craft from his father over twenty-five years ago.”

Adair (1944), p. 23 AS OF 1944 ^[3]

Writing of the late 1930s, Adair (1944) placed the family:

“Near Crystal there is a group of smiths descended from Atsidi Sani and his brothers. Four of these are Andrew, John, Henry, and Fred Peshlakai, all of whom are brothers.”

Adair (1944), p. 93 AS OF 1944 ^[3]

Adair (1944, p. 197) listed Fred Peshlakai, with five others of the Peshlakai name, among the Navajo silversmiths of 1940. ^[3]

Baxter (2000) described him this way:

“Another influential figure from the early to mid-century was Fred Peshlakai, nephew of Slender Maker of Silver; he worked both on and off the reservation, and also taught silversmithing to Kenneth Begay”

Baxter (2000), p. 117 AS OF 2000 ^[4]

His place in the line3 passages · 2 books

The teacher of Kenneth Begay, in Baxter's and Schaaf's words.

Baxter (2000) summed up his place in the lineage:

“Peshlakai had a major impact on the training of Navajo silverworkers, and he serves as an important “bridge” between the older generation of smiths—those active in the last quarter of the nineteenth century—and the younger generations of the Depression, war years, and beyond, as personified by Begay himself, among others.”

Baxter (2000), p. 117 AS OF 2000 ^[4]

Schaaf (2003, p. 253) recorded Fred Peshlakai as Navajo, active from before 1916 to 1960, living in Arizona and Los Angeles, the teacher of Kenneth Begay and of students at the Fort Wingate Boarding School, where he taught jewelry classes in the 1930s, and a demonstrator at the 1934 World's Fair. ^[6]

Schaaf (2003) wrote:

“Fred Peshlakai is a giant in the history of American Indian jewelry.”

Schaaf (2003), p. 253 AS OF 2003 ^[6]

Los Angeles and Lone Mountain5 passages · 2 books

His workshop, his stone, and where his tools went.

According to Ryan & Chambless (2020, p. 72), Fred Peshlakai was one of the top customers of Doc Wilson's American Gem Company in Los Angeles, and he set up his jewelry workshop there around 1938, being most active in the 1940s and 1950s. ^[1]

Ryan & Chambless (2020) on his stone:

“Lone Mountain turquoise became the signature stone in his work and helped define the distinctive Lone Mountain look.”

Ryan & Chambless (2020), p. 73 AS OF 2020 ^[1]

According to Ryan & Chambless (2020, p. 139), Doc Wilson, owner of Nevada's Lone Mountain mine, developed a relationship with Fred Peshlakai, who continued to make jewelry of the highest artistic level, often with high-grade Lone Mountain turquoise. ^[1]

The same 1975 caption on his career:

“His best work was done during the 1940's through 1960. After leaving New Mexico and Arizona he operated his own business in Los Angeles and San Francisco, California.”

Stacey (1975), p. 10 AS OF 1975 ^[2]

And, as of 1975, on his tools:

“His tools and stamps are now the prized possessions of Dee Morris, silversmith of Sedona, Arizona.”

Stacey (1975), p. 10 AS OF 1975 ^[2]

Frequently asked questions

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.

Sources