Vernon Mansfield — Hopi Silversmith Hallmark
Vernon Mansfield and Willard Nuvayaouma were first cousins, and around 1967 Willard gave Vernon his tools and mark to use. Margaret Nickelson Wright's Hopi Silver, a register of Hopi smiths and their hallmarks, records Vernon as a member of the Sun clan from Shungopavi who learned at the Hopi Silvercraft Guild, began silverwork in 1959 and was still working when her list was compiled (Wright 2003, p. 81).
His hallmark
Wright prints two dated marks for him, labelled "Orion 1967" and "Two Feathers 1970," and notes that he had lost his mark and started using the new one in 1970. The printed drawings show three small four-armed stars in a row, and two long feathers side by side, their tips converging at the bottom (Wright 2003, p. 81).
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References
- Wright, Margaret Nickelson. Hopi Silver: The History and Hallmarks of Hopi Silversmithing. Revised edition. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 2003.
- 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) entered him as
“Vernon Mansfield, Sr. (hallmarks - in 1967, Orion's Belt; in 1970, two feathers)”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 231 [2]
Schaaf (2003, p. 231) recorded Vernon Mansfield, Sr. as Hopi, born about 1931, a first cousin of Willard Nuvayaouma, taught at the Hopi Silvercraft Cooperative Guild, and the father and teacher of Verden Mansfield and Vern Mansfield, Jr. [2]
Schaaf (2003, p. 231) recorded his other work as a rancher and farmer, in a retail post at the Watchtower at the Grand Canyon, and with the U.S. Forest Service. [2]
Field Notes by Mateo James
I notice the books start his silverwork at different years. Wright records that he began in 1959, while Schaaf's 2003 entry lists him as active from 1956. I show both as printed.
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