Lee Weebothee — Zuni Silversmith
Zuni silversmith. Profiled in Mark Bahti’s Silver + Stone (2007).
Lee Weebothee, a Zuni silversmith, was profiled in Mark Bahti's Silver + Stone (2007).
The Mark
Recorded mark: LM/W, a mark he shared with his wife, Mary (Schaaf (2003), p. 317).
From the Library: Bahti, Silver + Stone: Profiles of American Indian Jewelers (2007)
A 2007 profile, reviewed and corrected by the artists themselves before publication. Anything described as current describes 2006-2007, not today.
Speaking to Bahti (2007) about working with his late wife, Mary, Lee Weebothee recalled:
“We started on the cluster business. The designs were all Mary's ideas.”
— Bahti (2007), p. 198 [1]
Asked by Bahti (2007) how he makes the texture on many of his rings, Lee Weebothee said:
“It's a secret. Even my kids don't know”
— Bahti (2007), p. 199 [1]
According to Bahti (2007, p. 197), Lee learned from his father, Wilbur Weebothee, to hammer sheet out of ingot and to make his own silver solder, which as of 2007 he still made rather than buying it; Bahti dates the start of his training to 1937, at age nine. [1]
According to Bahti (2007, p. 198), Lee also watched the famed early Zuni silversmith Juan Dedios, his father's step-uncle, who had taught Lee's father, and learned sand-casting from watching him. [1]
According to Bahti (2007, p. 199), Lee made the bezel work and Mary (1934-95) did the cutting and polishing when they began cluster work, on turquoise brought by Gallup trader Joe Tanner (p. 198); from the 1970s they won prize after prize at the Gallup Intertribal Ceremonial, then stopped entering to make room for younger artists. [1]
From the Library: Schiffer, Turquoise Jewelry (2008)
2008 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2008, not today.
Schiffer (2008, p. 41) illustrated a cast silver ring with oval nuggets and three inlays on one side by Lee and Mary Weebothee, Zuni, 1989. [2]
From the Library: Bedinger, Indian Silver (1973)
1973 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 1973, not today.
Writing in 1973, Bedinger singled the couple out:
“Lee and Mary Weebothee of Zuni are famous for their cabochon-cut clus terwork.”
— Bedinger (1973), p. 194 [3]
Sources
- Bahti, Mark. Silver + Stone: Profiles of American Indian Jewelers. Tucson: Rio Nuevo Publishers, 2007. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 2007.
- Schaaf, Gregory. American Indian Jewelry I: 1,200 Artist Biographies. Santa Fe: CIAC Press, 2003. Cited for the recorded hallmark.
- Schiffer, Nancy N. Turquoise Jewelry. Revised 4th ed. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing, 2008. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 2008.
- Bedinger, Margery. Indian Silver: Navajo and Pueblo Jewelers. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1973. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 1973.
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