James Rawn Lomay — Silversmith
Hallmark documented in: Hougart, Wright (Hopi Silver). Rendered from the documented mark, not a photograph.
Overview
James Rawn Lomay (1965–) is a Hopi silversmith active since the 1980s working in contemporary, overlay, and fabricated jewelry. He is the son of Irvin Lomay and — through him — the grandson of Lewis Lomay, the storied Hopi silversmith who worked for years at Frank Patania's Thunderbird Shop in Santa Fe. James Rawn continues a family silversmithing tradition spanning three documented generations. His mark is "J L (with a snake between the letters)".
Living artist; extra care taken for accuracy.
The Mark
"James Rawn Lomay (1965-; Hopi). Active since 1980s. Contemporary; overlay; fabricated jewelry. Son of Irvin Lomay and grandson of Lewis Lomay. Mark: J L (with a snake between the letters)"
— Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022), p. 192.
The mark as documented in Hougart's hallmark reference: J L (with a snake between the letters).
Family Links
- Son of Irvin Lomay. See Irvin Lomay.
- Grandson of Lewis Lomay (via Irvin Lomay). See Lewis Lomay.
References
- Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. Washington, DC: BilleHougartBooks, 2022. p. 192.
- 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.
- 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.
Know more about this artist? Contact T.Skies.
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), James Rawn Lomay, son of Irvin Lomay, began silverwork in Santa Fe in 1987 and learned from his grandfather; Wright labels his mark 'Initials with Snake'. [1]
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
“Rawn Lomay (James), (signs J. L. & snake)”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 221 [2]
Schaaf (2003, p. 221) recorded James Rawn Lomay as Hopi/Mescalero Apache, born in 1965 in Santa Fe, a grandson of Lewis Lomay and Sophie Roybal Lomay, taught by Lewis and Irvin Lomay, with a degree in Administration of Justice from Scottsdale Community College. [2]
James Rawn Lomay told Schaaf (2003):
“Complex but simple - that is the best way to describe my work”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 222 [2]
Field Notes by Mateo James
I notice the books give his nation a little differently. This page calls him Hopi, while Schaaf's 2003 entry records him as Hopi/Mescalero Apache. I show both as printed.
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.