Susie James — Navajo/Diné Silversmith
Name-card placeholder — hallmark imagery to follow. © Turquoise Skies Inc.
Susie James (1954–2012) was a Navajo silversmith active since the 1990s. The Hougart record documents her work in traditional stamp work, set stones, and hollowware — the last technique being relatively unusual and indicating a higher level of fabrication skill, as hollowware requires forming closed three-dimensional silver forms rather than flat or wire-based constructions.
She was the daughter of Marcella James, establishing a family connection within the Navajo silversmithing tradition. Her mark is notably spelled with a "Z" — SUZIE JAMES — rather than the conventional "S" spelling of her name.
The Mark
""SUZIE JAMES (with a 'Z')" — Hougart, Bille. *Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks*, 5th ed. (2022)."
— Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022).
— Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022).
The full name stamp reads SUZIE JAMES. The "Z" spelling is specifically noted by Hougart as a distinguishing feature of the mark, important for authentication.
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- Hougart, Bille. *Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks*, 5th ed. Schiffer Publishing, 2022.
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.