Leonard Martza — Silversmith
Overview
Leonard Martza (1928–) is a Zuni silversmith active since the late 1940s, recognized for multiple styles including wrought, mosaic inlay, and stone sets. He is best known for butterfly, rainbow man, and knife wing motifs. He collaborated with Betty Natachu, Lisa Tucson (his niece), and Margaret Edaakie. During the 1950s and 1960s he worked for C. G. Wallace and the Gallup Indian Trading Company, and at Pueblo Trading near Zuni. Hougart's hallmark reference notes that much of the inlay jewelry bearing his mark was silver base work he produced, while the inlay stone sets were designed and supplied by others. His mark is not specified in the recovered excerpt.
Living artist; extra care taken for accuracy.
The Mark
"Leonard Martza (1928-; Zuni). Active since late 1940s. Multiple styles; wrought; mosaic inlay; butterfly, rainbow man and knife wing motifs; stone sets. Collaborates with Betty Natachu, Lisa Tucson (his niece) and Margaret Edaakie. 8 Worked for C. G. Wallace and the Gallup Indian Trading Company during 1950s and 1960s, and also worked at Pueblo Trading near Zuni. Much of the inlay jewelry marked for Leonard Martza was probably fabricated by others and Martza made the silver base upon which the inlay was mounted. The inlay stone sets were designed and supplied by others. Virginia Bobelu collabo"
— Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022).
The mark as documented in Hougart's hallmark reference: Not stated in recovered excerpt; possibly his name or initials.
References
- 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.
- Bassman, Theda, and Michael Bassman. Zuni Jewelry. Revised and Expanded 3rd Edition. Photographs by Gene Balzer. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing, 2006 (first published 1992). Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 2006.
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From the Library: Schaaf, American Indian Jewelry I (2003)
2003 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2003, not today.
Schaaf (2003, p. 233) recorded Leonard Martza as Zuni, born in 1928 and living at Zuni Pueblo as of 2003, a son of Silas Martza and Argentina Shebola Martza, who collaborated with Margaret Edaakie and Mrs. Theodore Edaakie and used natural Blue Gem, Morenci and Carrico Lake turquoise. [1]
Leonard Martza told Schaaf (2003) that he
“wanted to be a jeweler, and Mr. Wallace hired me”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 233 [1]
Schaaf (2003) recorded that he later
“made jewelry at his shop on the west side of Gallup”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 233 [1]
Schaaf (2003) noted that one of his pieces in the 1975 sale was
“Another was a bolo of a Zuni dancer that was mis-identified in the catalog”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 233 [1]
Schaaf (2003) wrote that
“Mr. Martza was working on a set of six Rainbow Man bracelets in channel inlay”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 233 [1]
From the Library: Bassman and Bassman, Zuni Jewelry (2006)
2006 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2006, not today.
Motif names follow the captions in Bassman and Bassman (2006), an outside observers' record; the Zuni people are the authority on the meaning of their own sacred figures.
Among Rainbow God pins made in 1991, Bassman and Bassman (2006, p. 27) pictured an inlay pin by Leonard Martza in coral, jet, gold lip mother-of-pearl, mother-of-pearl and Chinese turquoise. [2]
Bassman and Bassman (2006) also pictured a necklace by him:
“Inlay squash blossom necklace of Rainbow Gods made in 1991 of turquoise, coral, jet and gold lip mother-of pearl by Leonard Martza”
— Bassman and Bassman (2006), p. 31 [2]
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.
Name card shown; hallmark photo to come.