Nellie Tso

Biography by Mateo James

Documented sterling silver hallmark of Nellie Tso, Navajo silversmith - Native American maker's mark

Hallmark documented in: Hougart. Rendered from the documented mark, not a photograph.

Overview

Nellie Tso (1932–2011) was a Navajo silversmith active from the 1980s, known for cast work.

Her work was sometimes marked for Atkinson Trading Company. Her documented marks: N Tso; N TSO; N. TSO; and NELLIE TSO. Several Tso-family silversmiths appear in this directory, but Nellie's entry states no relation to any of them, so we record none.

Collector's caution: Nellie Tso's work was sometimes marked for Atkinson Trading Company — a piece may carry the shop's mark rather than, or alongside, her own. Read any shop mark together with the maker's mark before attribution.

The Mark

"Nellie Tso (1932-2011; Navajo). Active since 1980s. Cast work. Sometimes marked for Atkinson Trading Company. Marks: N Tso; N TSO; N. TSO; NELLIE TSO"
— Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022).

The mark as documented in the Hougart corpus: N Tso; N TSO; N. TSO; NELLIE TSO (pieces sometimes marked for Atkinson Trading Company).

References

  • Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. Schiffer Publishing, 2022.

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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.