Sherian Honhongva — Hopi Silversmith Hallmark
Sherian Honhongva — Hopi Silversmith
Sherian Honhongva (1960–; Hotevilla, Hopi) works in inlay and cobblestone jewelry and is a multiple award winner. She is the niece of Charles Loloma, for whom she served as an apprentice and assistant for approximately 25 years. She is the mother of Marlin Honhongva (see Marlin Honhongva) and the sister of Verma Nequatewa.
Sherian Honhongva and her sister Verma Nequatewa shared the corporate mark SONWAI until 1993. From 1993, Sherian used her own marks. Verma Nequatewa continued using a SONWAI mark combined with a butterfly. The SONWAI mark originated from their shared work in Loloma's studio, where both nieces also helped with stonework.
Hougart separately notes in the Loloma entry: "His nieces Verma Nequatewa and Sherian Honhongva also helped Loloma in his studio, and later designed and sold their own creations with the mark SONWAI."
Her son Marlin Honhongva (1977–) is a Katsina carver and jeweler working in modernist cobblestone jewelry. He is documented as a nephew of Charles Loloma.
The Marks
"Sherian Honhongva (1960-; Hotevilla, Hopi). Inlay; cobblestone jewelry. Multiple award winner. Niece of Charles Loloma. [For] about 25 years, she was an apprentice and assistant [for Loloma]. Mother of Marlin Honhongva. Her [shared] corporate mark (SONWAI) with her sister Verma Nequatewa [until] 1993. Marks: SONWAI until 1993; [own marks from 1993]"
— Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022).
Primary marks: SONWAI (shared with Verma Nequatewa until 1993); individual marks from 1993 onward.
References
- Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. Washington, DC: BilleHougartBooks, 2022.
Know more about Sherian Honhongva or the Loloma family silversmithing lineage? 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. 65), Charles Loloma's nieces Verma Nequatewa and Sherian Honhongva worked among the helpers in his shop and excelled; when his health failed much of the shop's output was theirs, after his death they worked on their own as "Sonwai," and as of the 2003 edition they exhibited separately, each with her own style showing Loloma's influence. [1]
Writing in the 2003 edition, Wright summarised her row in one line:
“Charles Loloma's niece and Verma Nequatewa's sister. Used Sonwai mark with Verma from 1989 to late 1993.”
— Wright (2003), p. 112 [1]
According to Wright (2003, p. 112), Sherian Honhongva, of the Badger clan at Hotevilla, began silverwork in 1983 and was still working when the listing was last revised; Wright shows the Sonwai mark (1989), her initials SH (1993) and a script-name mark labelled 'Butterfly 1997'. [1]
Writing in the 2003 edition, Wright explained the change in Sherian's mark:
“In 1993 Sherian sold her shares and now uses a new mark.”
— Wright (2003), p. 87 [1]
From the Library: Bassman, The Beauty of Hopi Jewelry (1993)
1993 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 1993, not today.
As of 1993, Bassman (1993, p. 2) wrote that Sherian Honhongva and her sister Verma Nequatewa exhibited their jewelry under the name Sonwai, that their work was as eagerly sought after as their uncle Charles Loloma's, and that they had developed their own styles and were known internationally. [2]
Bassman (1993, p. 53) pictured a matching bola tie and belt buckle of 18-carat gold inlaid with coral and lapis lazuli, made in 1992 and credited to Sonwai. [2]
From the Library: Schaaf, American Indian Jewelry I (2003)
2003 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2003, not today.
Schaaf (2003) dated her marks:
“1989-93, collaborated with Verma Nequatewa under their trade name, Sonwai with Butterfly hallmark, 93-present, signs Sherian”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 179 [3]
Schaaf (2003, p. 179) recorded Sherian Honhongva of Hotevilla as a daughter of Wilson and Peggy Kaye and a niece and student of Charles Loloma, and wrote that in 1993 she and her sister Verma decided to make jewelry independently of one another. [3]
Schaaf (2003) wrote that
“Sherian left Sonwai in 1994 to work on her own”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 220 [3]
Field Notes by Mateo James
I notice a one-year difference in her birth year. Hougart, followed on this page, gives 1960, while Schaaf's 2003 entry gives 1959. I show both as printed.
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.
- 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.
- 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.