Ronnie Calabaza — Zuni Silversmith
Ronnie Calabaza is a Zuni jeweler in raised mosaic and channel inlay, the son of Rosalie Pinto. Gregory Schaaf's American Indian Jewelry I lists him as Zuni, active from 1978 in raised mosaic, channel inlay and stampwork silver jewelry (Schaaf 2003, p. 102). Bille Hougart's Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks lists him as Zuni, active since the 1970s in mosaic inlay, cluster sets, stamp work and crosses (Hougart 2022, p. 76).
Theda and Michael Bassman's Zuni Jewelry pictures a raised mosaic inlay bola tie with matching tips that he made in 1991 in turquoise, coral, jet, abalone, mother-of-pearl, gold lip mother-of-pearl and penn shell, which won an Honorable Mention at the Museum of Northern Arizona Zuni Show that year (Bassman and Bassman 2006, p. 34). Schaaf records the same 1991 award (Schaaf 2003, p. 102). Bassman prints the name as Ronnie Calavaza.
His hallmark
Schaaf records the stamp ROC ZUNI NM from about 1978 to 1986 and RC from about 1986 (Schaaf 2003, p. 102); Hougart gives R O C ZUNI NM, shared with Olivia Calabaza, and R C since the mid-1980s (Hougart 2022, p. 76).
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References
- 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.
- Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks: Silversmiths, Designers, Guilds and Traders. 5th edition. Washington, DC: BilleHougartBooks, 2022.
- Bassman, Theda, and Michael Bassman. Zuni Jewelry. Photographs by Gene Balzer. Revised and expanded 3rd edition. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing, 2006.
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.