Verden Mansfield — Hopi Silversmith
Verden Mansfield learned from Vernon Mansfield and began silverwork at Shungopavi in 1974, according to Margaret Nickelson Wright's Hopi Silver, a register of Hopi smiths and their hallmarks (Wright 2003, p. 89).
A bola tie with a bear, made in 1992, appears in Theda Bassman's The Beauty of Hopi Jewelry (Bassman 1993, p. 17). Bille Hougart's Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks lists him as Hopi, working in overlay and active since the 1970s (Hougart 2022, p. 205).
His hallmark
Wright indexes his mark as an antelope (Wright 2003, p. 114). Hougart gives his marks as "Antelope; V M" (Hougart 2022, p. 205).
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.
- Bassman, Theda. The Beauty of Hopi Jewelry. Photography by Gene Balzer. Walnut, California: Kiva Publishing, 1993.
- 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) recorded his mark:
“antelope, sometimes stamps VM”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 231 [4]
Schaaf (2003, p. 231) recorded Verden Mansfield as Hopi, active from about 1974 in silver overlay jewelry, taught by his father Vernon Mansfield, with Best in Category for matched overlay sets at the 2002 Inter-tribal Indian Ceremonial in Gallup, and galleries including Shush Yaz in Santa Fe and Gallup. [4]
Schaaf (2003, p. 231) recorded that his brother Benjamin Mansfield also used an antelope head, shown full face, as his hallmark, so an antelope alone does not separate the brothers' work. [4]
Schaaf's 2003 hallmark index gives VM to three makers:
“VM (Verden Mansfield, Viki Martin, Victor Lee Masayesva)”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 229 [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.