Horror for Newbies

Ask the Author: Kim Messier

“Ask me a question.” Kim Messier

Answered Questions (6)

Sort By:
Loading big
An error occurred while sorting questions for author Kim Messier.
While I am new to the marks of Native American jewelry I have learned a great deal from what I have read so far on your blog and thank you for this. After reading your blog on Lincoln Ambrose and Ambrose Roanhorse I could see that people are still confusing the marks and some pieces have the Roanhorse name rather than a mark. Would these pieces be marked incorrectly? K. King
Kim Messier Katherine,

There is still some confusion over the two hallmarks, and there are some in the Indian jewelry industry who refuse to believe the corrected attributions. However, Ambrose Roanhorse did not sign every piece he made with the AR in a Horse hallmark, and some dealers are comfortable attributing unsigned pieces to A. Roanhorse by the age and style of work. A. Roanhorse did not sign any pieces with only his last name, so anything attributed to Ambrose Roanhorse with that hallmark would be incorrect. Also consider that there were, and still are, many Navajo silversmiths with the last name of Roanhorse, and they may use their last name as part of their hallmark.

Thank you for contacting me, and for your compliments of the blog posts.

Regards,
Kim Messier
flag
Kim, do you have information on a silversmith named Sonny Romero? I have seen one reference to him on Worthpoint, where he is described as Zuni. Another reference to him on Worthpoint, where he is attributed as a collaborator on a piece by Jacob Poleviyouma. Romero is listed in Hougart's book on silversmiths. His mark is a sun face with rays. I would attach an image, but I don't seen an option to do so here.
Kim Messier Hi Harold. I have no knowledge of Sonny Romero. You have already conducted the research I would have done to find any information about him. I have access to Hougart’s 3rd edition and have seen the mark attributed to Sonny Romero. I have never seen any jewelry with this mark.
flag
Kim, is there a way of distinguishing early silver beads, i.e., early 20th c.? Thanks in advance. Harold Hollis
Kim Messier Harold, my specialty is hallmarked Indian jewelry, I would not be able to provide this kind of information.
flag
Good evening Ms (or it it Dr?). I just read your blog on Barton Wright. I have family in Flag & Norther Az (Riordan, Chamber, Malmgren) and my folks knew Barton. I met him as a young man. My mother (Mary Chmbers Malmgren recently passed and I inherited what I believe is a painting by Barton. Is there any way to verify it? Send you a image of it. Its signature is similar to one I saw on work on your blog of Patusunqo
Kim Messier Hi Carl. Do you use Facebook Messenger? If so, please send an image of the painting (plus one of the signature) via Messenger, searching for me by Kim Messier. I will do the best I can to identify it.
flag
Kim, in your article on overlay, you mention Dean Kirk. In the color image that shows several pins, the thunderbird at upper left is labeled Hopi Made. I have that same image on a belt buckle, with no hallmark. I assumed it is from Dean Kirk's shop. In fact, I have 4 overlay belt buckles of similar design with inlayed turquoise, no hallmarks, that I have assumed are from Dean Kirk's shop. Your thoughts? Thanks. Harold
Kim Messier We have not been able to identify the owner of the hallmarks HAND MADE HOPI, HAND MADE NAVAJO, or HAND MADE ZUNI, but we believe them to be shop marks for a trader who employed silversmiths from all three tribal affiliations. But we are fairly confident those marks did not belong to Dean Kirk. We know Dean Kirk's shop employed Navajos to made overlay with Mimbres designs, but haven't investigated other types of jewelry made in that shop. I can say Woodard's shop in Gallup had Navajos make Hopi style overlay with flush inlaid turquoise that was never hallmarked to our knowledge. However, it would be impossible to attribute any shop or silversmith to your buckles without seeing images of them.
flag
I've got a nice oval silver pin with a hallmark. The hallmark is in the style of Ike Wilson, however the arrow is pointing in the opposite direction. Was this a play on his hallmark, or was this a pirate piece? I'd be most interested to find an answer: other sources were unable to shed any light on the subject. Thank you in advance for any help you can provide. George Schaefer
Kim Messier Hi George, unfortunately an image of the hallmark needs to be provided before I could share any opinions.
flag
Kim Messier
36 followers
To ask Kim Messier a question, please sign up.

About Goodreads Q&A

Ask and answer questions about books!

You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.

See Featured Authors Answering Questions

Learn more