Steven Sockyma — Hopi Silversmith
Steven Sockyma learned at Hopicrafts and began silverwork at Hotevilla in 1969, Margaret Nickelson Wright's Hopi Silver, a register of Hopi smiths and their hallmarks, records (Wright 2003, p. 84).
He later worked for a jewelry wholesaler in Scottsdale, where, Mark Bahti writes, he "was the foreman" (Bahti 2007, p. 73). Bille Hougart's Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks lists him as Hopi, working in overlay, with "Jewelry; novelties" (Hougart 2022, p. 295).
His hallmark
Wright lists two initial marks for him, one "Used only on special orders" and a new mark in 1987 (Wright 2003, p. 84). Hougart gives his mark as "S S (conjoined; may also be marked for Hopicrafts)" (Hougart 2022, p. 295).
Own a piece with this mark, or know more about this artist? Contact T.Skies.
References
- Wright, Margaret Nickelson. Hopi Silver: The History and Hallmarks of Hopi Silversmithing. Revised edition. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 2003.
- Bahti, Mark. Silver + Stone: Profiles of American Indian Jewelers. Tucson: Rio Nuevo Publishers, 2007.
- Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks: Silversmiths, Designers, Guilds and Traders. 5th edition. Washington, DC: BilleHougartBooks, 2022.
- 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, p. 294) recorded Steven Sockyma as Hopi, active from about 1969 in silver overlay, born at Hotevilla and living at Glorieta, New Mexico, as of 2003, a brother of Michael and Mitchell Sockyma, taught at Hopicrafts, with a first prize at Indian Market in 1975 and a special-order hallmark alongside his SS. [4]
Schaaf's 2003 hallmark index gives SS to five makers:
“SS (Sherry Sandoval, Serena Small, Stella Smiley, Steven Sockyma, Stanford Stover)”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 276 [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.