Shirley Quam — Zuni Silversmith
Shirley Quam is a Zuni jeweler working in petit point and cluster work, the daughter of Alice and Duane Quam. Gregory Schaaf's American Indian Jewelry I lists her as Zuni, active from before 1976 in cluster and petit point jewelry, and taught by her mother (Schaaf 2003, p. 265). Bille Hougart's Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks also lists her as Zuni, active since the 1970s in petit point and cluster work (Hougart 2022, p. 259).
Theda and Michael Bassman's Zuni Jewelry includes a turquoise needlepoint bracelet of hers among bracelets made in 1998 (Bassman and Bassman 2006, p. 64). Her sister is Lorraine Waatsa, and her brother Wayne works with Virginia Quam (Schaaf 2003, p. 265; Hougart 2022, p. 259).
Her hallmark
Schaaf records her mark as S.QUAM (Schaaf 2003, p. 265); Hougart gives S. QUAM and Shirley Quam (Hougart 2022, p. 259).
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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.