Robert Leekya — Zuni Silversmith

Robert Leekya learned from his father, Leekya Deyuse. Bille Hougart's Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks lists him as "Robert Leekya (1931-2019; Zuni)," active from the 1960s, much of his work in nugget-style jewelry in silver and gold, and records that "He was taught by his father Leekya Deyuse." Hougart names his sister Sarah Leekya and his brother Francis Leekya (Hougart 2022, p. 184).

He carved stone as well. Margery Bedinger's Indian Silver names him with Ted Wiakwe among the few stonecutters proficient enough for three-dimensional carving (Bedinger 1973, p. 201).

He worked with his wife, Bernice Leekya, and for many years both worked for the trader John Kennedy in Gallup (Hougart 2022, p. 184), whose Gallup Indian Trading Company counted them among its silversmiths (Hougart 2022, p. 359). Nancy N. Schiffer's Turquoise Jewelry shows their nugget bracelet, a Kingman turquoise watchband, bolo tie and buckle, and a large-stone buckle of the 1980s (Schiffer 2008, pp. 8, 38, 51). Theda and Michael Bassman's Zuni Jewelry shows their turquoise nugget watch tips in 14-karat gold and a buckle of turquoise and branch coral, both from 1998 (Bassman and Bassman 2006, pp. 39, 62).

His hallmark

Hougart gives his own mark as R L (conjoined). The R L B stamp, in which the larger L extends below the B, he shared with Bernice, so a piece with it may be hers (Hougart 2022, p. 184).