Lee Charley — Navajo Silversmith Hallmark

Biography by Mateo James

Hallmark of Lee Charley (Navajo) — photographed by T.Skies

Lee Charley's hallmark as photographed on an authenticated piece. © Turquoise Skies Inc.

Navajo · documented in the T.Skies hallmark library

Lee Charley (born 1968) is a Navajo silversmith active since the 1980s whose output is notable for its breadth of figural and novelty forms rather than the standard bracelet-and-pendant categories. Working in a traditional idiom, Charley produced pins, novelties, ranger sets, figural jewelry, stamps, butterflies, whistles, and magnifying glasses — a range suggesting a craftsman drawn to demonstrating virtuosity in three-dimensional form-making and functional decorative objects.

The mark

Per Hougart: Mark LC.

Note: the L CHARLEY mark is also documented in Hougart for a separate, related artist listed simply as "L Charley (Navajo)" with no birth year or active period — this artist appears immediately above Lee Charley in the alphabetical listing. The two marks (LC vs. L CHARLEY) should be treated as distinct stamps; a piece marked LC with a 1980s+ provenance is more likely the work of Lee Charley (b. 1968), while L CHARLEY could be an older family member.

A third adjacent entry, J. Charley (Navajo), worked as a silversmith at Stoneweaver, Inc. with mark J. CHARLEY. The Charley family appears in Hougart as a cluster of Navajo silversmiths of different generations.

What is known

  • Nation: Navajo
  • Born: 1968
  • Active: since 1980s
  • Techniques: traditional; pins; novelties; ranger sets; figural forms; stamps; butterflies; whistles; magnifying glasses
  • Mark: LC
  • Adjacent family members in Hougart: L Charley (L CHARLEY mark); J. Charley (Stoneweaver, Inc.); Rose Charley (Y&R; Y&R CHARLEY marks); Stanley Charley (SA conjoined with star)

Know more about Lee? Let us know.

References

  • Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022), p. 82. Entry: "Lee Charley (1968–; Navajo). Active since 1980s. Traditional jewelry; pins, novelties, ranger sets; figural. Stamps; butterflies; whistles; magnifying glasses. Mark: LC."