Sheldon Westika — Zuni Silversmith
Sheldon Westika works in channel inlay with his wife, Nancy Westika. Bille Hougart's Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks lists him as "Sheldon Westika (Zuni)," active since the 1970s, and records that he shares his stamp with her (Hougart 2022, p. 334).
Nancy N. Schiffer's Turquoise Jewelry shows a full turquoise channel inlay set by the couple, "Zuni, 1986": cufflinks, ring, watchband, bolo tie, small cufflinks, earrings and tie tac, and a tie tac of theirs in an assembled set (Schiffer 2008, p. 63). Theda and Michael Bassman's Zuni Jewelry shows a channel inlay turquoise belt buckle by Nancy and Sheldon Westika from 1991 (Bassman and Bassman 2006, p. 47).
His hallmark
Hougart gives the shared mark as S. N. W., the same for both, so the stamp alone cannot tell you which of them made a piece (Hougart 2022, p. 334).
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References
- Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks: Silversmiths, Designers, Guilds and Traders. 5th edition. Washington, DC: BilleHougartBooks, 2022.
- Schiffer, Nancy N. Turquoise Jewelry. Revised 4th edition. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing, 2008.
- Bassman, Theda, and Michael Bassman. Zuni Jewelry. Photographs by Gene Balzer. Revised and expanded 3rd edition. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing, 2006.
- 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) entered him as
“Sheldon Westika (engraves SNW)”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 324 [4]
Schaaf (2003, p. 324) recorded Sheldon Westika as Zuni, active from 1971 in mosaic and channel inlay jewelry, the son of Eloise Westika, a potter and beadworker, and Clifton Westika, the brother of Lena Westika Quandelacy and the husband of Nancy Westika, with a first prize for channel inlay earrings at the Inter-tribal Indian Ceremonial in Gallup in 2002; Cameron Trading Post carried his work. [4]
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.