James Harrison — Navajo/Diné Silversmith Hallmark
James Harrison's hallmark as photographed on an authenticated piece. © Turquoise Skies Inc.
Navajo/Diné · documented in the T.Skies hallmark library
James Harrison is a Navajo silversmith documented in Hougart for stamp work, nugget sets, and shadowbox jewelry. His single recorded mark is the conjoined initials J H.
The Hougart entry is brief and carries no birth year, active period dates, or award history. Two other Harrison-family silversmiths appear in adjacent Hougart entries: Jimmy Harrison (1952–; Navajo), a multiple award winner known for contemporary stone-to-stone and mosaic inlay who studied with Preston Monongye and Jesse Monongya and worked at Joe Tanner's shop; and a Jim Harrison referenced as a stone and inlay collaborator with Lee Yazzie and Preston Monongye. The relationship among James, Jimmy, and Jim Harrison is not specified in Hougart.
The mark
Per Hougart: Mark: J H
Note: The JH initial stamp is shared by at least two other silversmiths in Hougart (Jimmy Harrison and John Hartman, Anglo), making the mark non-diagnostic on its own. Piece attribution should rely on style and documented provenance.
What is known
- Nation: Navajo
- Techniques: stamp work; nugget sets; shadowbox
- Mark: J H
- No birth year, active period, or award history documented
Know more about James? Let us know.
References
- Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022), p. 134.
- 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's 2003 hallmark index gives JH to four makers:
“JH (James Harrison, Jim Harrison, Jimmy Herald, Gerald Honwytewa)”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 169 [1]
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.