Phil Navasya — Hopi Silversmith
Phil Navasya came to silver through a university studio. Margaret Nickelson Wright's Hopi Silver, a register of Hopi smiths and their hallmarks, records that he "Studied at CSU, Fresno, California with Ed Lund" and began silverwork at Oraibi in 1974 (Wright 2003, p. 89).
He works in gold as well as silver. Theda Bassman's The Beauty of Hopi Jewelry shows a pair of his earrings in 18-carat gold with diamonds and rubies, made in 1992 (Bassman 1993, p. 48). Bille Hougart's Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, which spells the name Navaasya, lists him as Hopi, active since the 1970s, and describes "Handcrafted chain link jewelry; overlay; silver, gold" (Hougart 2022, p. 223).
He has taught as well. The jeweler Gerald Lomaventema told Mark Bahti that he learned "wax-carving from Phil Navasya" (Bahti 2007, p. 98).
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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.
- Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks: Silversmiths, Designers, Guilds and Traders. 5th edition. Washington, DC: BilleHougartBooks, 2022.
- Bahti, Mark. Silver + Stone: Profiles of American Indian Jewelers. Tucson: Rio Nuevo Publishers, 2007.
- 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: Schaaf, American Indian Jewelry I (2003)
2003 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2003, not today.
Schaaf (2003) wrote:
“Phil Navasya is a top contemporary Hopi goldsmith and jewelry designer.”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 243 [5]
Schaaf (2003, p. 243) recorded Phil Navasya as Hopi, of Oraibi, active from about 1974 in gold, silver, overlay, mosaic and fabricated jewelry and bead necklaces, schooled at California State University, Fresno, taught by Ed Lund, and the teacher of Gerald Honwytewa, with Best of Show, Best of Division and Best of Class at Indian Market in 1977. [5]
Schaaf (2003) added:
“He is one of the few Hopi who is a master at mosaic inlay.”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 243 [5]
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.