Jimmy Harrison — Silversmith
Overview
Jimmy Harrison (born 1952) is a Navajo artist active since the 1970s, making contemporary inlay jewelry — stone-to-stone and mosaic inlay in silver and gold. He studied with Preston Monongye, with some inlay collaboration in the early 1980s while working at Joe Tanner’s shop, and with Jesse Monongya. He is a multiple award winner.
His marks include "J H" inside a circle, a Navajo symbol, or a horned moon symbol; "Jim Harrison" in script; and "HAND MADE."
Collector’s caution: Three different Navajo makers in this directory can be confused here: Jimmy Harrison (this page), James Harrison — a separate Hougart entry (stamp work, nugget sets, shadowbox) whose mark is a plain "J H" — and Harrison Jim, whose surname is Jim. A bare "J H" stamp alone does not settle attribution between the two Harrisons; look for the enclosing circle, Navajo symbol, or horned-moon border that mark Jimmy’s work.
The Mark
"Jimmy Harrison (1952-; Navajo). Active since 1970s. Contemporary inlay jewelry; stone-to-stone; mosaic inlay; silver, gold. Studied with Preston Monongye (some inlay collaboration with Monongye in the early 1980s while working at Joe Tanner's shop) and with Jesse Monongya. Multiple award winner. Marks: J H (inside a circle or a Navajo symbol); Jim Harrison (script); HAND MADE; J H (inside a circle); J H (inside a horned moon symbol)"
— Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022).
The mark as documented in Hougart's hallmark reference: J H (inside a circle or a Navajo symbol); Jim Harrison (script); HAND MADE; J H (inside a horned moon symbol).
References
- Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. Washington, DC: BilleHougartBooks, 2022.
- Bassman, Theda. The Beauty of Navajo Jewelry. Photography by Gene Balzer. Walnut, California: Kiva Publishing, 1997. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 1997.
- 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: Bassman, The Beauty of Navajo Jewelry (1997)
1997 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 1997, not today.
Bassman (1997, p. 19) pictured a bracelet with a mosaic inlay of a female Yei figure in jet, turquoise, angel and oxblood coral, white mother-of-pearl and sugilite, made by Jim Harrison. [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
“Jim Harrison (2), (Jimmie Harrison), (signs Jim Harrison, Navajo)”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 172 [2]
Schaaf (2003, p. 172) recorded him as born in 1952 at Shiprock, educated at the Academy of Arts Del Debbio in Paris and the University of New Mexico, with Preston Monongye among his teachers, and a Best of Show at the Navajo Show of the Museum of Northern Arizona. [2]
Field Notes by Mateo James
I notice the books divide the Harrison marks differently. Hougart, followed on this page, gives the script Jim Harrison mark to this smith, while Schaaf's 2003 register gives a script Jim Harrison stamp, first used in 1979, to a different Navajo smith of Cave Creek, Arizona, and says this one signs Jim Harrison, Navajo. I show both, so read a script signature with the piece's date and style.
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.