Randall Honwisioma — Hopi Silversmith Hallmark
Randall Honwisioma (born 1906; also recorded as "Honwisioma" or "Honowisioma"; Mishongnovi, Hopi) was active from the 1930s through approximately 1962. His hallmark is a parrot.
Honwisioma learned silversmithing from Grant Jenkins at Graves Indian Store (later Skiles Indian Store) in Phoenix. Wright documents him working at Vaughn's Indian Store in Williams, Arizona from 1937 to 1962. The Setalla brothers (Ferris and Robert) of Walpi also learned from Randall Honwisioma in Phoenix.
Hougart records him as active at "various shops beginning in the 1930s" and notes his many years at Vaughn's Indian Store in Arizona. Wright's more detailed account places him specifically at Graves/Skiles and Vaughn's.
Paul Saufkie and Randall Honwisioma were also working on designs in a similar overlay style in 1941 (Wright, p. 36).
The Mark
"Randall Honwisioma (1906-; Hopi). Active 1930s-1960s. Silversmith at various shops beginning in the 1930s. Worked many years at Vaughn's Indian Store in Arizona. Mark: A parrot"
— Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022).
"Randall / Honwisioma — Parrot — Mishongnovi — pre-1933 — 1962. [Also: Honsima.] Born 1906. Learned from Grant Jenkins at Graves Indian Store [later Skiles] in Phoenix. Worked for Vaughn's Indian Store in Williams, Arizona from 1937 to 1962."
— Wright, Margaret Nickelson. Hopi Silver: The History and Hallmarks of Hopi Silversmithing. Revised edition. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 2003, p. 76.
Know more about Randall Honwisioma or the early Hopi silversmithing tradition? Contact T.Skies.
From the Library: Wright, Hopi Silver (2003)
2003 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2003, not today.
According to Wright (2003, p. 36), Randall Honwisioma was among the smiths who completed suitable pieces for the Museum of Northern Arizona's Hopi-design project, and by 1941 he and Paul Saufkie were working on designs of their own in a similar style. [1]
According to Wright (2003, p. 76), Randall Honwisioma belonged to the Parrot clan, and his hallmark, a parrot, is labelled 'Parrot'. [1]
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
“Randall Honwisioma (Honwesima), (hallmark - parrot)”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 180 [3]
Schaaf (2003, p. 180) recorded Randall Honwisioma as Hopi, born in 1906 and active from before 1933 to 1962, and wrote that in 1941 he, Paul Saufkie, Washington Talayumptewa and Morris Robinson were working in the overlay technique. [3]
Sources
- Wright, Margaret Nickelson. Hopi Silver: The History and Hallmarks of Hopi Silversmithing. Revised edition. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 2003. Originally published by Northland Publishing. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 2003.
- 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.
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.