Lucille and Sampson Bowekaty — Zuni Silversmiths
Lucille and Sampson Bowekaty are a Zuni wife and husband who have worked in needlepoint since the 1960s, under one stamp. Gregory Schaaf's American Indian Jewelry I lists both as Zuni, active from the 1960s in needlepoint, Sampson also in some mosaic inlay, and gives their forms as bolos, bracelets, earrings, pendants, pins and squash blossom necklaces in silver, coral and turquoise (Schaaf 2003, p. 97). Bille Hougart's Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks lists Lucille as active since the 1960s in needlepoint, sharing the stamps with her husband (Hougart 2022, p. 69).
Theda and Michael Bassman's Zuni Jewelry shows five round needlepoint pin-pendants "made by Lucille and Sampson Bowekaty in the 1980s" (Bassman and Bassman 2006, p. 45).
Their hallmark
Hougart gives the shared marks as S & L and S B L (Hougart 2022, p. 69); Schaaf records the stamps S & L and SBL (Schaaf 2003, p. 97). Hougart's headword spells his name Samson.
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References
- 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.
- Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks: Silversmiths, Designers, Guilds and Traders. 5th edition. Washington, DC: BilleHougartBooks, 2022.
- Bassman, Theda, and Michael Bassman. Zuni Jewelry. Photographs by Gene Balzer. Revised and expanded 3rd edition. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing, 2006.
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.