Homer Vance — Hopi Silversmith
Bille Hougart's Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks describes Homer Vance as an "Actor and silversmith," and lists him as Hopi, about 1882 to 1961, working in "Stamp work; set stones; repoussé; bracelets; buckles" (Hougart 2022, p. 325).
Margaret Nickelson Wright's Hopi Silver, a register of Hopi smiths and their hallmarks, records that he was born in 1882, began silverwork around 1920, and "Worked at Grand Canyon for a year, as well as other stores"; he died in 1961 (Wright 2003, p. 75). John Adair's 1938 list, reprinted by Wright, has him working at Williams (Wright 2003, p. 127).
His hallmark
The sources differ. Wright records his mark as "Mark Not Definite" (Wright 2003, p. 75). Hougart attributes to him "H V (serif letters, with a "sun" crescent)" (Hougart 2022, p. 325).
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References
- Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks: Silversmiths, Designers, Guilds and Traders. 5th edition. Washington, DC: BilleHougartBooks, 2022.
- Wright, Margaret Nickelson. Hopi Silver: The History and Hallmarks of Hopi Silversmithing. Revised edition. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 2003.
- Adair, John. The Navajo and Pueblo Silversmiths. The Civilization of the American Indian Series. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1944. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 1944.
- 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: Adair, The Navajo and Pueblo Silversmiths (1944)
1944 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 1944, not today.
Adair's 1944 list of Hopi silversmiths working outside the reservation in 1938 included him:
“Homer Vance, of Shipaulovi, works at Williams”
— Adair (1944), p. 195 [3]
From the Library: Schaaf, American Indian Jewelry I (2003)
2003 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2003, not today.
Schaaf's 2003 hallmark index lists HV for Homer Vance:
“HV (Homer Vance)”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 315 [4]
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.