Leon Lomakema — Hopi Silversmith
Leon Lomakema works in overlay. Margaret Nickelson Wright's Hopi Silver, a register of Hopi smiths and their hallmarks, records that he learned from Clifton Mowa and began silverwork at Shungopavi in 1990 (Wright 2003, p. 103).
Two years later he was making hair pieces, among them one with a sun face and one with a water design, photographed for Theda Bassman's The Beauty of Hopi Jewelry (Bassman 1993, p. 41). Bille Hougart's Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks lists him as Hopi, working in overlay and active since the 1990s (Hougart 2022, p. 191).
His hallmark
Wright indexes his mark as "Sun's Forehead & Feather" (Wright 2003, p. 126). Hougart gives his marks as "Sun's forehead; a feather," and notes that his work "May also have a Hopi Guild mark" (Hougart 2022, p. 191).
Own a piece with this mark, or know more about this artist? Contact T.Skies.
References
- Wright, Margaret Nickelson. Hopi Silver: The History and Hallmarks of Hopi Silversmithing. Revised edition. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 2003.
- Bassman, Theda. The Beauty of Hopi Jewelry. Photography by Gene Balzer. Walnut, California: Kiva Publishing, 1993.
- Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks: Silversmiths, Designers, Guilds and Traders. 5th edition. Washington, DC: BilleHougartBooks, 2022.
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.