Virgil Benn — Zuni Silversmith
Virgil Benn's inlay is credited jointly with Shirley Benn in each of these books. Bille Hougart's Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks lists him as Zuni, active since the 1950s, working in "Channel and mosaic inlay. Many human face and head designs; animals" (Hougart 2022, p. 58).
Ray Manley's Collecting Southwestern Indian Arts & Crafts shows a Zuni bola by Virgil and Shirley Benn (Manley 1979, p. 43), and Theda and Michael Bassman's Zuni Jewelry shows a raised and etched inlay pin they made in 1991 (Bassman and Bassman 2006, p. 28).
His hallmark
Hougart gives his marks as "V. & S. BENN; V. & S. Benn (script); Virgil and Shirley Benn (etched)", shared with Shirley Benn (Hougart 2022, p. 58).
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References
- Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks: Silversmiths, Designers, Guilds and Traders. 5th edition. Washington, DC: BilleHougartBooks, 2022.
- Manley, Ray. Ray Manley's Collecting Southwestern Indian Arts & Crafts. Text by Clara Lee Tanner and others; photography by Naurice Koonce, Ray Manley and Alan Manley. Tucson: Ray Manley Photography, 1979.
- 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.