Lee Charley — Navajo/Diné Silversmith Hallmark
Lee Charley's hallmark as photographed on an authenticated piece. © Turquoise Skies Inc.
Navajo/Diné · 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."
- 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.
From the Library: Schaaf, American Indian Jewelry I (2003)
2003 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2003, not today.
Schaaf (2003), who entered him as Lee Charley, Jr., recorded that he was the
“son of Lee Charley, Sr”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 109 [1]
Schaaf (2003, p. 109) recorded Lee Charley, Jr. as Navajo, born in 1968 and living at Thoreau, New Mexico, as of 2003, taught by his mother, with dragonflies as his favorite design and Hubbell Trading Post at Ganado and Ellis Tanner Trading Co. in Gallup among his galleries. [1]
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.