Nancy Westika
Overview
Nancy Westika is a Zuni channel-inlay artist active since the 1970s. She shares her stamp — S. N. W. — with her husband Sheldon Westika, so the mark identifies the household, not one hand.
Collector's caution: The S. N. W. stamp is shared — Hougart documents the identical mark for both Nancy and Sheldon Westika. A piece bearing S. N. W. cannot be attributed to either artist alone on the mark's evidence.
The Mark
"Nancy Westika (Zuni). Active since !970s. Channel inlay. Nancy Westika shares the stamp with her husband Sheldon Westika. Mark: S. N. W."
— Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022).
The mark as documented in Hougart's hallmark reference: S. N. W. (shared with her husband Sheldon Westika).
References
- Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. 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.
- Bassman, Theda, and Michael Bassman. Zuni Jewelry. Revised and Expanded 3rd Edition. Photographs by Gene Balzer. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing, 2006 (first published 1992). Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 2006.
Know more about this artist? Contact T.Skies.
From the Library: Schaaf, American Indian Jewelry I (2003)
2003 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2003, not today.
Schaaf (2003) entered her as
“Nancy Westika (engraves SNW), (collaborates with Sheldon Westika)”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 324 [1]
Schaaf (2003, p. 324) recorded Nancy Westika as Zuni, active from 1971 in mosaic and channel inlay jewelry, the wife of Sheldon Westika, with a first prize for channel inlay earrings at the Inter-tribal Indian Ceremonial in Gallup in 2002, and listed snowflakes and stars as her favorite designs. [1]
From the Library: Bassman and Bassman, Zuni Jewelry (2006)
2006 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2006, not today.
Bassman and Bassman (2006) pictured a choker by Nancy and Sheldon Westika:
“Inlay choker made of pink coral and Chinese turquoise by Nancy and Sheldon Westika.”
— Bassman and Bassman (2006), p. 31 [2]
Bassman and Bassman (2006) pictured a turquoise belt buckle made in 1991 by the couple:
“Channel inlay made by Nancy and Sheldon Westika.”
— Bassman and Bassman (2006), p. 47 [2]
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.