Naveek — Navajo/Greek Silversmith
Naveek works in channel inlay set into silver and gold, and makes all of it by hand. Bille Hougart's Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks lists him as Navajo/Greek, active since the 1970s in channel inlay and set stones in silver and gold, and names him the 1993 IACA Artist of the Year (Hougart 2022, p. 321). Paula A. Baxter's Encyclopedia of Native American Jewelry counts him among the Navajo jewelers active from the 1970s to the 1990s (Baxter 2000, p. 118).
Lois Essary Jacka's Navajo Jewelry: A Legacy of Silver and Stone gives his method in his own words: "I don't do any castwork," and "I feel comfortable saying that I made it all by hand" (as quoted in Jacka 1995, p. 60). She shows his 14-karat gold bracelets channel-inlaid with black jade, sugilite, Australian opal, coral and lapis lazuli, the triangular designs in the gold textured with a diamond-tipped pave graver, and credits his Navajo and Greek heritages as influences on his designs (Jacka 1995, p. 62). Of what he aims for, he told her: "I want my work to have a strong sense of harmony and hold a balance between contemporary and traditional" (as quoted in Jacka 1995, p. 102).
His hallmark
Hougart gives his marks as a symbol and NAVEEK (Hougart 2022, p. 321).
Own a piece with this mark, or know more about this artist? Contact T.Skies.
References
- Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks: Silversmiths, Designers, Guilds and Traders. 5th edition. Washington, DC: BilleHougartBooks, 2022.
- Baxter, Paula A., with Allison Bird-Romero. Encyclopedia of Native American Jewelry: A Guide to History, People, and Terms. Phoenix: Oryx Press, 2000.
- Jacka, Lois Essary. Navajo Jewelry: A Legacy of Silver and Stone. Photographs by Jerry Jacka. Flagstaff: Northland Publishing, 1995.
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.