Lewis Lomay (Lomayesva) — Hopi Silversmith
Lewis Lomay (Lomayesva) (c.1915–1996; Hopi) was active from the 1930s until his death in 1996. An artist and silversmith, he worked in overlay and fabricated techniques in both silver and gold — producing jewelry, flatware, and set stones, with some chip inlay. He was a student of Ambrose Roanhorse (see Ambrose Roanhorse), whose foundational role in training Hopi and Navajo silversmiths shaped a generation of practitioners.
Lewis Lomay worked for many years as a silversmith at Frank Patania's Thunderbird Shop in Santa Fe, NM (see Frank Patania Sr.). He also worked at the Rainbow Man in Santa Fe, circa 1960s–1970s. He later opened his own shop in Santa Fe — Hopi Indian Silver. Lomay was a multiple award winner. He was the father of Irvin Lomay (see Irvin Lomay) and Peggy Lomay.
His son Irvin Lomay (Hopi), active since the 1980s, carries on the family silversmithing tradition with marks I L (with a snake between or after the letters) and I L. Irvin's son James Rawn Lomay (1965–; Hopi) also works as a contemporary overlay silversmith.
"Lewis Lomay (lomayesva) (c.1915-1996; Hopi). Active 1930s-1996. Artist and silversmith. Overlay; fabricated. Silver, gold; jewelry, flatware; set stones; some chip inlay. A student of Ambrose Roanhorse, he worked for many years as a silversmith at Frank Patania's Thunderbird Shop in Santa Fe, NM. He also worked at the Rainbow Man in Santa Fe, NM, circa 1960s-1970s. He opened his own shop in Santa Fe (Hopi Indian Silver). Father of Irvin and Peggy Lomay. Multiple award winner. Marks: L, inside a sun (known to be used in 1970s); a snake (some early pieces were stamped with only a snake); L (and snake); LL (and snake); LL; LOMAY SILVER SANTA FE (and snake); LL. Hopi Silver; etched LL and snake on some small items" — Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022).
Lewis Lomay used a distinctive series of marks evolving over his long career: an L inside a sun (1970s); a snake device (used alone on early pieces); L and snake; LL and snake; LL alone; LOMAY SILVER SANTA FE and snake; LL Hopi Silver; and etched LL with snake on small items. The snake is the consistent visual thread across his mark history.
Know more about Lewis Lomay or the Hopi overlay tradition? Contact T.Skies.
Family Links
- Grandfather of James Rawn Lomay (via son Irvin Lomay).
From the Library: Wright, Hopi Silver (2003)
2003 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2003, not today.
According to Wright (2003, p. 21), Lewis Lomay (Lomayesva) of Oraibi learned silver jewelry from Ambrose Roanhorse at the Indian School in Santa Fe about 1930, left school during the Depression and went to work in Frank Patania's silver shop in Santa Fe, where he smithed for thirteen years. [1]
According to Wright (2003, p. 127), a 1939 list of working Hopi silversmiths published in Plateau 12 names him as Lewis Lomayesva. [1]
According to Wright (2003, p. 76), Lewis Lomay was of the Masau clan and began silverwork about 1930; his mark, labelled 'Snake & L.L.', came from his father's clan rather than his own. [1]
According to Wright (2003, p. 76), he did some cast work about 1949, worked at Frank Patania's shop for thirteen years before taking up another occupation, and went on with his craftwork after retiring until his death in 1996. [1]
Wright (2003, p. 76) lists Walter Muchka, of the Badger clan at Oraibi, as a smith who worked with Lewis Lomay for Frank Patania in Santa Fe from about 1930. [1]
From the Library: Schaaf, American Indian Jewelry I (2003)
2003 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2003, not today.
Schaaf (2003, p. 193) named Lewis Lomay and Peggy Lomay as the teachers of the Hopi/San Juan/Isleta jeweler Mark Jiron, Lewis's grandson, who recalled spending the summer of 1996 with his grandfather and mother. [2]
Schaaf (2003) entered him as
“Lewis Lomay (Lewis Lomayesva, Comay Pesva, Coma Pesva), (signed L.L. & snake)”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 222 [2]
Schaaf (2003, p. 222) recorded Lewis Lomay as Hopi, active from about 1930 to 1996, educated at the Santa Fe Indian School, taught by Ambrose Roanhorse and Frank Patania, the teacher of his children Irvin and Peggy Lomay, with his work in the Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution, and the Millicent Rogers Museum in Taos. [2]
Schaaf (2003) wrote that
“Lewis Lomay shortened his name from the longer Hopi version, Lomayesva.”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 222 [2]
Schaaf (2003) later wrote that
“He opened a shop on Old Santa Fe Trail in Santa Fe”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 223 [2]
Field Notes by Mateo James
I notice Schaaf's 2003 entry gives a firmer birth date than this page. Hougart lists about 1915, while Schaaf prints April 15, 1914, at Old Oraibi on Third Mesa. I show both.
Sources
- Wright, Margaret Nickelson. Hopi Silver: The History and Hallmarks of Hopi Silversmithing. Revised edition. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 2003. Originally published by Northland Publishing. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 2003.
- 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.
Name card shown; hallmark photo to come.