Lawrence Saufkie — Silversmith
Hallmark documented in: Hougart (Hallmarks), Schaaf (1200 Bios), Hougart (100 Collectible), art-amerindien.com. Rendered from the documented mark, not a photograph.
Overview
Lawrence Saufkie (1934–2011) was a Hopi silversmith and a 1998 Arizona Indian Living Treasure. Active since the 1940s, he specialized in overlay work and accumulated multiple award wins, including a 1962 Indian Market award. He was the husband of Griselda Saufkie and the son of Paul Saufkie, placing him in a distinguished Hopi silversmithing family. His mark, "SAUFKIE" (with, or without, a bear; the bear mark used after c. 1953), appears on his work and was also stamped jointly with his wife.
The Mark
"Lawrence Saufkie (1934-2011; Hopi). Active since 1940s. Overlay. 1962 Indian Market award winner. Husband of Griselda Saufkie; son of Paul Saufkie. 1998 Arizona Indian Living Treasure. Multiple award winner. Mark: SAUFKIE (with, or without, a bear; bear mark used after c.1953); some work co-stamped with his wife"
— Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022), p. 277.
The mark as documented in Hougart's hallmark reference: SAUFKIE (with, or without, a bear; bear mark used after c.1953) [also stamped with his wife Griselda].
Family Links
- Son of Paul Saufkie. See Paul Saufkie.
References
- Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. Washington, DC: BilleHougartBooks, 2022. p. 277.
- 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.
- Bassman, Theda. The Beauty of Hopi Jewelry. Photography by Gene Balzer. Walnut, California: Kiva Publishing, 1993. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 1993.
- Stacey, Joseph, ed. Turquoise Blue Book and Indian Jewelry Digest. Arizona Highways Collectors Series. Phoenix: Arizona Highways (Arizona Department of Transportation), 1975. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 1975.
- Manley, Ray. Ray Manley's Collecting Southwestern Indian Arts & Crafts. Text by Clara Lee Tanner and others; photography by Naurice Koonce, Ray Manley and Alan Manley. Tucson: Ray Manley Photography, 1979. Includes Clara Lee Tanner, "Southwest Indian Silverwork," pp. 39–41. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 1979.
- Baxter, Paula A., with Allison Bird-Romero. Encyclopedia of Native American Jewelry: A Guide to History, People, and Terms. Phoenix: Oryx Press, 2000. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 2000.
- 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. 53), Lawrence learned from his father, Paul Saufkie, the instructor in the World War II veterans' classes: as a boy he used his father's tools without permission until Paul caught him and offered to teach him the craft. [1]
According to Wright (2003, p. 53), after he married he took up silverwork again, and his wife, the former Griselda Nuvamsa, helped him and gradually learned the whole process, making silver for several years before she used her own mark. [1]
According to Wright (2003, p. 53), Lawrence might use his clan symbol, a bear, on some pieces, and with Griselda made work in many styles, including two- and three-dimensional Palhik' Mana bola ties and pendants. [1]
According to Wright (2003, p. 85), Ross Joseyesva, of the Strap clan at Shungopavi, began in 1971 and worked a little with Lawrence Saufkie before going to the Hopi Guild. [1]
Wright (2003, p. 86) records that Bob Sekakuku, who began in 1972, was self-taught but also watched his uncle, Lawrence Saufkie. [1]
According to Wright (2003, p. 77), Lawrence Saufkie, of the Bear clan at Shungopavi, was born in 1935, learned from his father as a teenager, began silverwork in 1947; his mark in the listing is labelled 'Bear', and he was listed as still working when the list was last revised. [1]
Wright (2003, p. 82) lists Gracilda Saufkie, of the Fog clan at Shungopavi, as beginning in 1964 after learning from Lawrence; she broke her first mark in 1971 and used a new one from 1972, and both marks are labelled 'Snow Cloud' (1965 and 1972). [1]
From the Library: Bassman, The Beauty of Hopi Jewelry (1993)
1993 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 1993, not today.
Bassman (1993, p. 17) pictured a Snake Dancer bola tie made in 1992 by Lawrence Saufkie. [2]
From the Library: Stacey, Turquoise Blue Book and Indian Jewelry Digest (1975)
1975 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 1975, not today.
Jerry D. Jacka, writing in the 1975 Turquoise Blue Book:
“Lawrence, a member of the Bear Clan, uses the figure of a bear as his hallmark and has gained the nickname of "Little Bear."”
— Stacey (1975), p. 79 [3]
Jacka (1975) on how he began:
“At the age of twelve, Lawrence decided to expand his secret operation to include silverwork. Soon thereafter, his father, Paul Saufkie, Sr., discovered him melting precious silver with a torch and decided that the time had come to teach Lawrence the techniques of Hopi silverwork.”
— Stacey (1975), p. 79 [3]
And on his first sales, per Jacka in 1975:
“Lawrence recalls that some of his earlier pieces, stamped copper buttons, were sold to his teacher at the Second Mesa Day School at a price of 50 cents for six buttons.”
— Stacey (1975), p. 79 [3]
From the Library: Manley, Collecting Southwestern Indian Arts & Crafts (1979)
1979 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 1979, not today.
According to Manley (1979, p. 44), the book pictured Hopi overlay bola ties by Lawrence Saufkie. [4]
From the Library: Baxter, Encyclopedia of Native American Jewelry (2000)
2000 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2000, not today.
Baxter (2000, p. 156) gave Lawrence Saufkie's birth year as 1935 and described him as a celebrated jeweler who had exhibited widely, won many awards, and contributed greatly to the fine-art side of overlay design. [5]
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
“Lawrence Saufkie (hallmark - bear)”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 279 [6]
Schaaf (2003, p. 279) recorded Lawrence Saufkie as Hopi, born about 1935 and active from about 1947 in silver overlay and set stones, the father of Wilmer Saufkie Lomayaoma and teacher of his wife Gracilda and of Emerson H. Quannie, showing at Indian Market from 1962, with his work in the Heard Museum and the Museum of Northern Arizona. [6]
Schaaf (2003) wrote that
“He began making jewelry in 1947 at the age of 12”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 280 [6]
Schaaf (2003) added:
“By 1949, he was selling his jewelry at the Inter-tribal Indian Ceremonial in Gallup.”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 280 [6]
Schaaf (2003, p. 280) wrote that in 1962 Lawrence became the first Hopi silversmith to win an award at Indian Market in Santa Fe. [6]
Field Notes by Mateo James
Field Notes by Mateo James: Hougart, whom this page follows, gives 1934 for Lawrence Saufkie's birth, while Wright's 2003 listing says he was born in 1935. I show both years 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.
Our page gives Lawrence Saufkie's birth year as 1934. Baxter's 2000 encyclopedia, in her entry on his father Paul, gives 1935. I show both as printed.