Willard Nuvayaouma — Hopi Silversmith Hallmark
Willard Nuvayaouma learned silversmithing at the Hopi Silvercraft Guild, and around 1967 gave his tools and mark to his first cousin, Vernon Mansfield. Margaret Nickelson Wright's Hopi Silver, a register of Hopi smiths and their hallmarks, records him as a member of the Sun clan from Shungopavi who began silverwork in 1959, and notes that he had done no silverwork for some time before his death in 1969 (Wright 2003, p. 81).
Bille Hougart's Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks lists him as "Willard Nuvayaouma (?-1969; Hopi)," active from the 1950s until 1969, working in overlay, and gives his mark as "A feather" (Hougart 2022, p. 231).
His hallmark
Wright labels his mark "Feather." The printed drawing shows a single long upright feather tapering to a point at the bottom, with a small divided tuft at the top (Wright 2003, p. 81).
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.
- 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), spelling the name Nuvayaoma, entered him as
“Willard Nuvayaoma (hallmark - feather)”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 248 [3]
Schaaf (2003, p. 248) recorded him as Hopi, of Shungopavi, active from about 1959 to 1967 in silver overlay jewelry, with a lifespan ending in 1969, taught at the Hopi Silvercraft Cooperative Guild, and a first cousin of Vernon Mansfield, Sr. [3]
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.