Ricky Coochwytewa — Hopi Silversmith Hallmark
Ricky Coochwytewa learned silversmithing from his father, Victor Coochwytewa. Margaret Nickelson Wright's Hopi Silver, a register of Hopi smiths and their hallmarks, records him as a member of the Bear clan from Shungopavi who began silverwork in 1970, and names his maternal uncle as Ted Wadsworth (Wright 2003, p. 84).
His hallmark
Wright labels his mark "Bear paw." The printed drawing shows a rounded pad with five short claw strokes fanning from its top (Wright 2003, p. 84).
Own a piece with this mark, or know more about this artist? Contact T.Skies.
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. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 1993.
From the Library: Bassman, The Beauty of Hopi Jewelry (1993)
1993 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 1993, not today.
Bassman (1993, p. 49) pictured village-scene earrings made by Ricky Coochwytewa, dated 1991, alongside pieces by Victor Coochwytewa. [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.