Manuel Hoyungwa — Hopi Silversmith
Hallmark documented in: Wright (Hopi Silver), Schaaf (1200 Bios), Hougart (Hallmarks).
Manuel Hoyungwa — Silversmith
Manuel Hoyungwa, a Hopi overlay silversmith of the Greasewood clan, worked at Hotevilla on Third Mesa. He learned from his uncle, Preston Monongye, and studied at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe. [1][2] His mark is a rain cloud. [2][3]
Hougart (2022, p. 146) gives his dates as 1953–2011. [3] The books print his surname three ways: Hoyungwa in Wright, Schaaf and Hougart; Hoyungowa in Dubin and Bassman; and Hoyungawa in Stacey. [1][2][3][4][5][6]
Hotevilla and his uncle
Wright (2003, p. 90) lists him at Hotevilla, of the Greasewood clan, beginning silverwork in 1975, with the note that he “Worked with his maternal uncle, Preston Monongye, and also studied at the Institute of American Indian Art, Santa Fe.” [1] Schaaf (2003, p. 183) names Preston as his teacher and records that Manuel was inspired by watching him, his neighbor at Hotevilla. Schaaf gives his parents as Katherine and Silas Hoyungwa. [2] Hougart describes him as his uncle's student. [3]
The 1974 concha belt
Two books describe a 1974 concha belt differently. Dubin (1999, p. 491) credits the belt to the Navajo jeweler Raymond Yazzie, writing that when Raymond “designed and made this piece at the age of fourteen, he was the youngest Indian artist ever to win Best of Show at the Gallup Intertribal Ceremonial,” and credits the overlay silverwork to Hoyungowa. [4] Schaaf (2003, p. 183) lists a 1974 Best of Show at the Inter-tribal Indian Ceremonial in Gallup among Manuel's own awards, for an overlay concha belt “inlaid by Raymond Yazzie.” [2]
His overlay work
Hougart describes his work as overlay, some of it also with coral and turquoise. Schaaf lists bolos, bracelets, concha belts, necklaces, pendants, pins and rings, and writes that his designs were “mostly inspired by Kachinas.” [3][2] Dubin pictures two late-1970s pieces from the Tanner collection: a belt buckle ringed with flute-playing Kokopellis and set with Royal Web turquoise, and a silver bracelet portraying the Shalako. [4]
Schaaf also lists 1979 awards for overlay bolos and concha belts, including Best of Division, a third place at Indian Market in Santa Fe in 1981, and Indian Market shows from 1979 to 1985. Schaaf names the Peabody Museum at Harvard among the collections that hold his work. Hougart calls him a multiple award winner. [2][3]
The Marks
“Mark: Several versions of a rain cloud (with six rain lines), sometimes combined on the same piece. Sometimes used a nine-rain line cloud (the nine-rain line cloud may appear by itself or co-stamped with the six-rain line cloud)”
— Hougart (2022), p. 146 [3]
Wright (2003) prints two marks, which the book's index labels “Strong Rain” and “Snow Cloud” (pp. 90, 118), and Schaaf (2003, p. 183) describes his mark as a “strong rain cloud.” Stacey's 1975 caption gives the name “Strong Rain” in parentheses after his. [1][2][6]
Family workshop
Schaaf and Hougart both name Karen Hoyungwa as his wife and the mother of their sons, Todd and Troy. Hougart says Karen and Manuel collaborated, that she also worked in overlay, and that her mark is a rain cloud. Schaaf lists her at Indian Market in Santa Fe up to 1985, with favorite designs that include waterbirds, rabbits, eagles, quail, roadrunners, turtles and hummingbirds. [2][3]
Wright (2003, p. 111) records that both sons began silverwork in 1995 and learned from their father. Todd's mark is an arrow; Hougart also records a storm cloud with an arrow. [1][3] Troy Hoyungwa, whose mark was three arrows, died in 2001. [1][3] Dubin lists all four, Manuel, Karen, Todd and Troy, among the artists she interviewed between 1991 and 1998. [4]
From the Library: Wright, Hopi Silver (2003)
2003 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2003, not today.
Wright (2003) prints two marks, which the book's index labels “Strong Rain” and “Snow Cloud” (pp. 90, 118). [1]
According to Wright (2003, p. 111), Todd and Troy Hoyungwa both began in 1995 and learned from their father, Manuel; Troy worked until his death in 2001. [1]
From the Library: Schaaf, American Indian Jewelry I (2003)
2003 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2003, not today.
Schaaf (2003) on his work:
“Manuel Hoyungwa is a master Hopi jeweler. His designs are creative, mostly inspired by Kachinas. The technical precision of his work is outstanding.”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 183 [2]
Schaaf (2003, p. 182) lists Karen Hoyungwa, Manuel's wife, as a silver overlay jeweler who showed at Indian Market in Santa Fe up to 1985. [2]
From the Library: Hougart, Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks (2022)
2022 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2022, not today.
Hougart (2022, p. 146) records Manuel as active from the 1970s to 2011 and as a collaborator with his wife, Karen, and lists separate marks for Karen, Todd and Troy: a rain cloud for Karen, an arrow or a storm cloud with an arrow for Todd, and three arrows with a single crossbar for Troy. [3]
From the Library: Dubin, North American Indian Jewelry and Adornment (1999)
1999 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 1999, not today.
Dubin (1999) captions the 1974 belt:
“Overlay silverwork by Manuel Hoyungowa (Hopi). 1974.”
— Dubin (1999), p. 491 [4]
On a late-1970s belt buckle from the Tanner collection:
“Flute-playing Kokopellis, borrowed from ancient petroglyphs, encircle this silver belt buckle set with a Royal Web turquoise stone.”
— Dubin (1999), p. 496 [4]
Dubin (1999) pictures 1994 work by Karen, Troy and Todd Hoyungowa, including Karen's concha belt and Todd's bracelets:
“The bracelet shapes by Todd Hoyungowa (right) are called ‘lightning.’”
— Dubin (1999), p. 498 [4]
From the Library: Bassman, The Beauty of Hopi Jewelry (1993)
1993 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 1993, not today.
Under the heading “From the 1970's,” Bassman (1993, p. 10) pictures several of his pieces from Tanner's Indian Arts, among them a bracelet with a bear paw design, a bracelet with a peacock design and turquoise stones, and a bola tie of the Long-haired Kachina. [5]
From the Library: Stacey, Turquoise Blue Book and Indian Jewelry Digest (1975)
1975 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 1975, not today.
Stacey (1975, p. 78) captions ribbon-winning silver overlay by him, spelled Hoyungawa, from Tanner's Indian Arts, with “Strong Rain” in parentheses after the name. [6]
Field Notes by Mateo James
The books disagree over the 1974 concha belt. Dubin gives the piece and the Best of Show to Raymond Yazzie and credits Hoyungwa with the overlay; Schaaf lists the Best of Show among Hoyungwa's own awards. We print each book's account as written.
His dates come from one book. Hougart, in 2022, gives 1953–2011. Wright and Schaaf, both writing in 2003, list him as still working.
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.
- Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks: Silversmiths, Designers, Guilds and Traders. 5th edition. Washington, DC: BilleHougartBooks, 2022. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 2022.
- Dubin, Lois Sherr. North American Indian Jewelry and Adornment: From Prehistory to the Present. Original photography by Togashi, Paul Jones, and others. New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1999. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 1999.
- Bassman, Theda. The Beauty of Hopi Jewelry. Photography by Gene Balzer. Walnut, California: Kiva Publishing, 1993. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 1993.
- Stacey, Joseph, ed. Turquoise Blue Book and Indian Jewelry Digest. Arizona Highways Collectors Series. Phoenix: Arizona Highways (Arizona Department of Transportation), 1975. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 1975.
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.