Jennie Vicenti
Overview
Jennie Vicenti is a Zuni silversmith whose documented work spans needlepoint, cluster work, and set stones, often layered with textured surfaces. Hougart records that she sometimes co-stamps with her husband, Edison Vicenti.
Collector's caution: Because Jennie sometimes co-stamps with her husband Edison, a piece may carry the joint "Ed & Jennie Vicenti" script mark rather than her name alone. Read the stamp carefully before attributing a piece to one maker — the joint mark documents shared work, and Edison's own entry should be consulted alongside this one.
The Mark
"Jennie Vicenti (Zuni). Needlepoint; cluster work; set stones; layered with textured surfaces. Sometimes co-stamps with her husband Edison Vicenti. Marks: Ed & Jennie Vicenti (script); Jennie Vicenti"
— Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022).
The marks as documented in Hougart's hallmark reference: Ed & Jennie Vicenti (script); Jennie Vicenti.
References
- Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. Washington, DC: BilleHougartBooks, 2022.
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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. 185), Jennie Vicenti (b. 1944) is the daughter of Anita Besselente and Buddy Hattie, who both silversmithed full-time and frequently won prize ribbons for their cluster and petit-point work at the Gallup Intertribal Ceremonial. [1]
Speaking to Bahti (2007), Jennie Vicenti recalled who taught her:
“My dad was the one who taught us kids. He was my mentor.”
— Bahti (2007), p. 186 [1]
As Jennie Vicenti told Bahti (2007) about moving from petit point into needlepoint:
“My parents were doing petit-point, in kind of a flat style. We wanted to do our own style.”
— Bahti (2007), p. 187 [1]
According to Bahti (2007, p. 189), Jennie began setting gemstones she faceted herself in 1980, began inlay work about the same time, and the couple started using more gold about 1990; they returned to Zuni in 1998 and, as of 2007, worked together in coral, lapis, sugilite and many types of turquoise. [1]
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.
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.