Gary Masawytewa — Hopi Silversmith
Gary Masawytewa began silverwork at Mishongnovi in 1991, and Margaret Nickelson Wright's Hopi Silver, a register of Hopi smiths and their hallmarks records that he "Learned at the Guild" (Wright 2003, p. 106).
Bille Hougart's Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks lists him as Hopi, working in overlay and active from the 1990s until his death in 2006 (Hougart 2022, p. 209).
His hallmark
Wright labels his mark "Bear Paw & Initials" (Wright 2003, p. 106). Hougart gives his marks as "A bear paw (using MASA as claws); G MASA (formed into a bear paw); G. Masawytewa" (Hougart 2022, p. 209).
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References
- Wright, Margaret Nickelson. Hopi Silver: The History and Hallmarks of Hopi Silversmithing. Revised edition. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 2003.
- Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks: Silversmiths, Designers, Guilds and Traders. 5th edition. Washington, DC: BilleHougartBooks, 2022.
- 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: Schaaf, American Indian Jewelry I (2003)
2003 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2003, not today.
Schaaf (2003) entered him as
“Gary Masawytewa (hallmark - bear paw, MASA, G. Masawytewa)”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 233 [3]
Schaaf (2003, p. 233) recorded Gary Masawytewa as Hopi, active from about 1991 in silver overlay jewelry, a grandson of Arthur Masawytewa and a brother of Del Fred and Darren Masawytewa, taught at the Hopi Silvercraft Cooperative Guild, with his work at the Hopi Market between First and Second Mesas. [3]
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.