Mitchell Sockyma — Hopi Silversmith Hallmark
Mitchell Sockyma learned silversmithing at Hopicrafts and worked for the shop. Margaret Nickelson Wright's Hopi Silver, a register of Hopi smiths and their hallmarks, records him as a member of the Corn clan, born in Hotevilla, who later moved to Kykotsmovi, began silverwork in 1972 and was still working when her list was compiled (Wright 2003, p. 86).
His hallmark
Wright labels his mark "Turtle 1975" and prints his initials MS beside it without a label. She notes that his mark varies in the relative position of the two initials, compared with the identical initials of his brother, Michael Sockyma. The printed drawings show a turtle seen from above, its oval shell dotted with small circles, with a head, four clawed legs and a pointed tail, and two versions of the letters M and S, the S at a different height beside the M in each (Wright 2003, p. 86).
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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.
- 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. 30) pictured a silver ring with a bear design made in 1992 by Mitchell Sockyma. [2]
From the Library: Schaaf, American Indian Jewelry I (2003)
2003 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2003, not today.
Schaaf (2003) entered him as
“Mitchell Sockyma, Sr.”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 294 [3]
Schaaf (2003, p. 294) recorded Mitchell Sockyma, Sr. as Hopi, born at Hotevilla and married into Kykotsmovi, active from about 1972 in silver overlay and set stones, a brother of Michael and Steven Sockyma, taught at Hopicrafts, and the teacher of Darren Seweyestewa, with Kokopelli, bear paws, Rainbirds, water, waves and clouds among his favorite designs. [3]
Schaaf (2003, p. 276) listed Mitchell Sockyma in its hallmark index under MS, initials it gave to eight makers. [3]
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.