Marcus Lomayestewa — Hopi Silversmith Hallmark
Marcus Lomayestewa, a son of McBride Lomayestewa, learned silversmithing at the Hopi Silvercraft Guild. Margaret Nickelson Wright's Hopi Silver, a register of Hopi smiths and their hallmarks, records him as a member of the Bear clan from Shungopavi who began silverwork in 1976 (Wright 2003, p. 92).
Bille Hougart's Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks lists him as "Marcus Lomayestewa (Hopi)," active since the 1970s and working in overlay, and gives his marks as "M L (conjoined); A flute; a chief's stick (may also be marked with a Guild stamp)" (Hougart 2022, p. 194).
His hallmark
Wright prints two marks for him, labelled "Flute" and "Chief Stick." The printed drawings show a long thin tube flaring at the left into a bell-shaped opening, and a horizontal rounded stick with a pointed pendant hanging from each end, above the capital letters ML (Wright 2003, p. 92).
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References
- Wright, Margaret Nickelson. Hopi Silver: The History and Hallmarks of Hopi Silversmithing. Revised edition. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 2003.
- 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.
- Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks: Silversmiths, Designers, Guilds and Traders. 5th edition. 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.
From the Library: Bassman, The Beauty of Hopi Jewelry (1993)
1993 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 1993, not today.
Bassman (1993, p. 27) pictured rings made in 1992 by Marcus Lomayestewa depicting katsina figures she named Hoho Mana, Crow Mother, Kachin-mana, Snow Maiden, Kokopelli Mana and Mother Kachina. [2]
Bassman (1993, p. 38) pictured cottonwood earrings set with turquoise stones made in 1984 by Marcus Lomayestewa. [2]
From the Library: Schaaf, American Indian Jewelry I (2003)
2003 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2003, not today.
Schaaf (2003, p. 207) named the Hopi overlay smith Pascal Nuvamsa as a brother of Marcus Lomayestewa and a son of McBride Lomayestewa. [4]
Schaaf (2003) recorded his
“(hallmarks - flute, chief's stick)”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 224 [4]
Schaaf (2003, p. 224) recorded Marcus Lomayestewa as Hopi, active from about 1976 in silver overlay jewelry, with Kachinas as a favorite design and his work at Harry Nutumya's Hopi Market between First and Second Mesas. [4]
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.