Velma Dewa — Zuni Silversmith
Velma Dewa is a Zuni jeweler who prefers cluster work, and who shares her stamps with her husband, Don C. Dewa. Gregory Schaaf's American Indian Jewelry I lists her as Velma E. Dewa, Zuni, active from the 1970s in needlepoint, cluster, mosaic and channel inlay jewelry (Schaaf 2003, p. 136). Bille Hougart's Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks lists her as Zuni, active since the 1970s in needlepoint, inlay and cluster work, and notes that she prefers to make cluster jewelry (Hougart 2022, p. 106).
Theda and Michael Bassman's Zuni Jewelry pictures an inlay and raised inlay mountain sheep made in the 1970s by Velma and Don Dewa (Bassman and Bassman 2006, p. 37).
Her hallmark
Hougart gives the shared marks D & V DEWA ZUNI, D & V ZUNI and D. & V. DEWA (Hougart 2022, p. 106); Schaaf records that she signs D. & V. DEWA, ZUNI (Schaaf 2003, p. 136).
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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.