Thomas Tso — Navajo Silversmith Hallmark

Biography by Mateo James

Thomas Tso's hallmark as photographed on an authenticated piece. © Turquoise Skies Inc.

Navajo · documented in the T.Skies hallmark library

Thomas Tso is a Navajo silversmith who specializes in row bracelets set with turquoise and coral.

The Work

Tso's documented output centers on row bracelets — a traditional Navajo form in which multiple stones are set in rows across the width of the cuff — worked in turquoise and coral. This is a classic Navajo style associated with the trading-post era and sustained by generations of Navajo bench workers. No active period, birth year, or award history is recorded in Hougart beyond the style and mark description.

The mark

Marks: T. T.; T. Tso (Hougart 5e, p. 319).

What is known

Hougart provides a brief entry: Navajo, row bracelets, turquoise and coral, marks T. T. and T. Tso. No other corpus book contains a Thomas Tso entry. The Tso surname is shared by several other Navajo silversmiths documented in Hougart (Brian Tso, Dan Tso, Don Tso, Mattie Tso, Phillip Tso, Roberta Tso, Sheila Tso) — none of whom are the same individual.

Know more about Thomas? Let us know.

References

• Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (Hougart 5e), p. 319 (printed): "Thomas Tso (Navajo). Row bracelets; turquoise; coral. Marks: T. T.; T. Tso"