Leonard Gene — Navajo/Diné Silversmith
Leonard Gene's arrow hallmark as photographed on an authenticated piece. © Turquoise Skies Inc.
Leonard Gene (born 1960) is a Navajo silversmith active since the 1970s. The Hougart record documents a wide range of techniques: traditional jewelry, overlay, cast work, purses, stamp work, set stones, and leather work. The breadth of his practice — spanning both traditional silversmithing and leather craft — marks him as a versatile maker within the Navajo tradition.
Gene is a recognized award winner at major Southwestern jewelry shows. Hougart records his 2016 SWAIA Best of Class Award and Best in Show at the 2018 Eiteljorg Indian Market, establishing him as one of the more decorated contemporary Navajo silversmiths documented in our reference books.
The Mark
""L. GENE" — Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022)."
— Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022).
— Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022).
The mark is a straightforward name stamp: L. GENE.
Know more about this artist? Contact T.Skies.
From the Library: Jacka, Navajo Jewelry: A Legacy of Silver and Stone (1995)
1995 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 1995, not today.
A 1995 caption in Jacka's book:
“Here, Leonard Gene combines overlay and stampwork to blend whimsical figures with traditional motifs.”
— Jacka (1995), p. 113 [1]
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
“Leonard Gene (stamps G in center of right-facing arrow)”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 162 [3]
Schaaf (2003, p. 162) recorded Leonard Gene as Navajo, born in 1960 at Fort Defiance, trained at the Nevada Jewelers School and living at Henderson, Nevada, as of 2003, with a first prize for belts at the 2000 Indian Market in Santa Fe. [3]
Leonard Gene told Schaaf (2003):
“My designs are always changing.”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 162 [3]
Schaaf's 2003 hallmark index lists the mark under his name alone:
“G & right arrow (Leonard Gene)”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 156 [3]
Sources
- Jacka, Lois Essary. Navajo Jewelry: A Legacy of Silver and Stone. Photographs by Jerry Jacka. Flagstaff: Northland Publishing, 1995. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 1995.
- Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. Washington, DC: BilleHougartBooks, 2022.
- 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.
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.