Ken and Mary Bill — Navajo Silversmith Hallmark

Biography by Mateo James

Ken and Mary Bill's hallmark as photographed on an authenticated piece. © Turquoise Skies Inc.

Navajo · documented in the T.Skies hallmark library

Ken Bill and Mary Bill are a husband-and-wife Navajo silversmithing pair who share at least one hallmark stamp — a common practice among married couples in the Navajo silversmithing tradition that complicates individual attribution but confirms the collaborative working relationship. Both are documented individually in Hougart 5e, appearing on the same page.

What is known

• Nation: Navajo (both)
• Techniques: Ken — stamp work, silver and gold; Mary — heavy-gauge, stamp work, silver and gold
• Relationship: husband and wife
• Shared mark: KENNETHSUN NAVAJO
• Attribution note: shared stamp means pieces cannot be individually attributed without provenance

Know more about Ken? Let us know.

References

• Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022), p. 62. Entries: "Ken Bill (Navajo). Stamp work; silver, gold. Ken Bill shares at least one stamp with his wife Mary Bill. Marks: [KENNETHSUN NAVAJO]." / "Mary Bill (Navajo). Heavy gauge; silver, gold; stamp work. At least one of the stamps is shared with her husband [Ken Bill]. Mark: [KENNETHSUN NAVAJO]."