Customer Reviews

Hopi Silver: The History and Hallmarks of Hopi Silversmithing

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For anyone who admires or collects Hopi jewelry, this guide will only serve to deepen your appreciation of this beautiful artwork. After setting the stage geographically, Wright starts at the beginning with a history of Hopi crafts and culture, and early silversmiths. Of particular interest was the role played by Mary-Russell Colter of the Museum of Northern Arizona in encouraging the Hopi artists to create a design style that was uniquely Hopi, distinguishable from other Native American jewelry, and therefore profitable. The color plates of traditional and modern Hopi jewelry designs are stunning. The book closes with an index of the hallmarks of more than 300 Hopi silversmiths-- arranged chronologically and by type of symbol, with brief information about each artist. An invaluable reference for serious or casual collectors!

Back in print is Hopi Silver: The History And Hallmarks Of Hopi Silversmithing, a revised classic covering the history and hallmarks of Hopi silversmithing. This classic appeared over twenty years ago and was updated in 1998 to include 80 new artisans: it not only reveals the history of past and contemporary Hopi silversmithers, but it provides an important reference of unique hallmarks used by other 300 Hopi silversmiths, including designs, silversmith name and clan, and years he or she began their work. Add color photos and you have a memorable coverage.

A Great book to convey the Hopi Indian Artestry of Silversmithing. Includes tribal and individual trademark symbols.
Support Native Americans by purchasing only Authentic Native American Made Jewelry. The Hopi Indians are Masters of their trade in Silversmithing. This is a well rounded book and I would recommend it to anyone who appreciates Hopi Silver!

This is the same 1998 book with a different cover. No new information since the 1998 edition.

To the individual who wrote the description and to some of you writing reviews. Please note the woman who "encouraged the Hopis to adopt a unique design style that would set their work apart from other Indian silver work" was Mary-Russell Ferrell Colton.

She was an accomplished artist and founder of the Museum of Northern Arizona with her husband, Harold.

She is not to be confused with Mary Colter, the architect.

Southwest Native American Jewelry is often seen as "monolithic": "Oh I got it in the Southwest, when I was visiting there." This book, and the photographs offer some clear differences between styles of the Hopi, the Navaho, and the other pueblo tribes in New Mexico.