Glenn Lucas — Hopi Silversmith
Glenn Lucas (?–1985; Hopi) was active from the 1960s until his death in 1985. He worked in overlay, and overlay combined with set stones. Glenn Lucas was an instructor at Hopicrafts, a private business that Wright (2003, p. 46) warns is easily confused with the Hopi Silvercraft Guild [2], where his students included Art Batala and Phil Poseyesva — both of whom went on to significant careers in Hopi overlay silversmithing.
Glenn Lucas was the father of a notable artistic family. His daughters are Dawna Lucas, Dorothy Ann Lucas, Helena Lucas (Namingha), and Trinidad Lucas; his son is Marvin Lucas. Together, the Lucas family represents one of the strong multigenerational lineages in Hopi overlay silversmithing.
Dawna Lucas (Hopi), active since the 1980s and the wife of Fernando Batala, uses marks D L and D L (conjoined). Dorothy Ann Lucas (Hopi), active since the 1990s, uses marks DAL and a bear paw. Helena Lucas (Namingha) (Hopi), active since the 1980s, married Raymie Namingha; she uses the mark HNL (conjoined). Trinidad Lucas (Hopi), active since the 1980s, uses mark T L d (the "d" sits inside the L, may be inside a bear symbol). Marvin Lucas (1922–; Hopi), active since the 1980s, was a 1991 Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial winner (Hougart 2022, p. 201) [5]; some of his work is co-stamped with Effie Tawahongva and he uses marks ML (conjoined with a line under the L) and M L (conjoined with large L).
"Glenn Lucas (?-1985; Hopi). Active 1960s-1985. Overlay; overlay combined with set stones. Daughters are Dawna, Dorothy Ann, Helena and Trinidad Lucas, and his son is Marvin Lucas. Active until his death in 1985, Lucas was instructor at Hopicrafts. His students included Art Batala and Phil Poseyesva. Mark: G L (conjoined)" — Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022).
The mark is G L (conjoined) — a two-initial stamp joining the letters without spacing, characteristic of Hopi hallmark practice in the overlay tradition.
Know more about Glenn Lucas or the Hopi overlay silversmithing tradition? 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. 170), Hopi silversmith Glenn Lucas was much admired and well liked among other silversmiths; Jason Takala began cutting his signature maze designs in the mid-1980s, just before Lucas died, and regarded the maze work as a gift passed on to him from Lucas. [1]
From the Library: Wright, Hopi Silver (2003)
2003 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2003, not today.
According to Wright (2003, p. 98), Glenn Lucas's daughter Dawn Lucas, of the Bear clan at Mishongnovi, began silverwork in 1987, learning from her uncle Marcus Coochwykvia, and was still working when the listing was last revised. [2]
Wright (2003, p. 98) lists another daughter, Helena Lucas Namingha, of the Bear clan at Mishongnovi, as beginning in 1987 after learning from Raymie Namingha. [2]
According to Wright (2003, p. 99), Leroy Honyaktewa, of the Eagle clan at Mishongnovi, began silverwork in 1988 after learning from Glenn Lucas. [2]
Wright (2003, p. 103) lists a daughter, Lucy Lucas, of the Bear clan at Mishongnovi, as beginning in 1990 after learning from her father, with the initials LL as her mark. [2]
According to Wright (2003, p. 105), his daughter Melinda Lucas Koinva, of the Bear clan at Mishongnovi, began in 1991, having learned from the Lucas family. [2]
Wright (2003, p. 111) lists his daughter Dorothy Ann Lucas, of the Bear clan at Mishongnovi, as beginning in 1995, with a bear paw and the initials DAL as her marks. [2]
Wright (2003, p. 90) credits Glenn Lucas, teaching at Hopicrafts, as the teacher of Emery Holmes and Raymond Kyasyousie, both of whom began in 1975. [2]
According to Wright (2003, p. 89), Art Batala, of the Masau clan at Mishongnovi, began in 1975 after learning at Hopicrafts under Glenn Lucas. [2]
According to Wright (2003, p. 93), Stephen Hyson Naseyoma, of the Greasewood clan, began in 1978 after learning at Hopicrafts under Glenn Lucas. [2]
Wright (2003, p. 94) lists his daughter Trinidad 'Trini' Lucas, of the Bear clan at Mishongnovi, as beginning in 1982 after learning from her father, with the initials TLd as her mark. [2]
According to Wright (2003, p. 83), Glenn Lucas, of the Sun clan, was born at New Oraibi and later lived at Mishongnovi; he began about 1966, and the listing records his death in 1985. [2]
Wright (2003) summed up his training in one line:
“Learned at Hopicrafts and served as instructor.”
— Wright (2003), p. 83 [2]
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. 4) pictured a necklace, bracelet, ring and earrings depicting the Alosaka deity, made in 1973 by Glenn Lucas. [3]
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
“Glen Lucas (Glen Burton Lucas), (signed GL)”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 228 [4]
Schaaf (2003, p. 228) recorded Glen Lucas as Hopi, active from about 1966 to 1985 in silver overlay jewelry, the father of Dawn Lucas, Dorothy Ann Lucas, Melinda Lucas Koinva and Helena Lucas Namingha among others, and named Art Batala, Nathan Fred, Jr., Stephen Hyson, Phil Poseyesva and his children as his students. [4]
Schaaf (2003, p. 228) listed the Peabody Museum at Harvard University among the collections holding his work. [4]
Schaaf (2003) wrote:
“His students praise him as one of the best Hopi jewelers”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 228 [4]
Schaaf's 2003 hallmark index gives GL to him alone:
“GL (Glenn Lucas)”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 209 [4]
Field Notes by Mateo James
Hougart's entry names a daughter Dawna Lucas, while Wright's 2003 listing spells her Dawn Lucas. Wright also lists two more daughters who learned the craft, Lucy Lucas and Melinda Lucas Koinva, whom the Hougart entry does not name.
Sources
- Bahti, Mark. Silver + Stone: Profiles of American Indian Jewelers. Tucson: Rio Nuevo Publishers, 2007. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 2007.
- 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.
- Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks: Silversmiths, Designers, Guilds and Traders. 5th edition. Washington, DC: BilleHougartBooks, 2022. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 2022.
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.