Viola Eriacho — Zuni Silversmith
Viola Eriacho is a Zuni inlay jeweler who works with her husband, Don Eriacho. Gregory Schaaf's American Indian Jewelry I lists her as Zuni, active from the 1970s in mosaic, inlay, needlepoint and cluster jewelry, with honey bees among her favorite designs, and records a second place for channel inlay rings at the Inter-tribal Indian Ceremonial in Gallup in 2002 (Schaaf 2003, p. 149). Bille Hougart's Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks lists her as Zuni, working in inlay, needlepoint and cluster work (Hougart 2022, p. 115).
Theda and Michael Bassman's Zuni Jewelry pictures an inlay ring in gold, of mother-of-pearl, turquoise, coral, jet and gold lip mother-of-pearl, among rings made in 1991, and 14-karat gold watch tips of turquoise, coral, mother-of-pearl and jet inlay made in 1998 by Don and Viola Eriacho (Bassman and Bassman 2006, pp. 15, 39).
Her hallmark
Hougart gives the shared marks D & V ERIACHO, D V E and DON & VIOLA ERIACHO (Hougart 2022, p. 115). Schaaf adds a bear paw (Schaaf 2003, p. 149).
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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.