Jennifer Curtis — Navajo/Diné Silversmith
Hallmark documented in: Hougart (Hallmarks), Schaaf (1200 Bios), Hougart (100 Collectible), art-amerindien.com. Rendered from the documented mark, not a photograph.
Jennifer Curtis is a Navajo silversmith active since the late 1980s. The Hougart record documents her as a specialist in heavy-gauge jewelry with geometric blanket designs, reversible concho belts with inside stamping, gold accents, and set stones including opals and diamonds. She also created cluster work.
Curtis comes from a distinguished Navajo silversmithing family: she is the daughter of Thomas Curtis and the sister of Thomas Curtis, Jr., and is the granddaughter of Dan A. Jackson (1944–2022), himself a major Navajo silversmith. Her lineage connects her to one of the more celebrated family traditions in twentieth-century Navajo jewelry.
She is a multiple award winner, with Indian Market recognition noted in our reference books, including the 2012 SWAIA Best-in-Traditional Jewelry award.
The Mark
""J. Curtis script; J. Curtis (etched, late 1990s); Jennifer (script, since 1995)" — Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022)."
— Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022).
— Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022).
Three mark variants are documented: a script "J. Curtis" mark, an etched "J. Curtis" used in the late 1990s, and a script "Jennifer" mark adopted since approximately 1995.
Know more about this artist? Contact T.Skies.
- Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. Washington, DC: BilleHougartBooks, 2022.
From the Library: Schaaf, American Indian Jewelry I (2003)
2003 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2003, not today.
Schaaf (2003) described her start:
“Jennifer Curtis grew up in Keams Canyon, AZ, learning jewelry making from her father and uncle.”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 127 [1]
Schaaf (2003, p. 127) named Thomas Curtis, Sr. and her uncle Billy Betoney as her teachers, recorded a first prize at the 1994 Indian Market, and reported her saying that the rug designs she etched came from her grandmother's weavings and that she wanted her work to be like a good handshake. [1]
Sources
- 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.
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.