Bernard Dawahoya

Bernard Dawahoya
Masaqueva in Hopi, ("Little Sun" or "Wings of the Sun")
Born	c.1935
Died	2011
Nationality	Hopi Pueblo, American
Known for	silversmithing
Style	onlay
Awards	Arizona Living Treasure, 1998

Bernard Dawahoya (c.1935-2011), was a Hopi silversmith belonging to the Snow Clan. ^[1] He was also known for his Kachina figurines, textile pieces, leatherwork and painting. ^[2] Dawahoya was awarded the designation of an Arizona Living Treasure in 1998. ^[2]

His Hopi name is Masaqueva, which translates as "Little Sun" or "Wings of the Sun". ^[2]

Early life and education

Dawahoya was born in the village of Shungopavi, Second Mesa, Hopi Pueblo, in Arizona. ^[2] He learned silversmithing from his grandfather and his uncles Sidney Sekakuku and Washington Talayumptewa, from the age of 7. ^{[3] [4]} He began silversmithing in earnest during his teenage years. ^[2] He was a member of the Hopi Silver Craft Cooperative Guild, where he also took classes. ^[2]

Work

Dawahoya's heavyweight silver work has been described as having crisp designs with precise texturing in negative spaces. Symbols incorporated into the designs include Hopi Snake Dancers, representations of Crow Mother, Mudhead Katchinas, and other images that are relevant to Hopi beliefs, culture, and history. ^{[2] [5]} His hallmark stamp is in the form of a snow cloud, and has also used the Hopicrafts hallmark when he worked with the Sekaquaptewa brothers. ^[6]

His style incorporates mixed metals – gold, silver, brass and copper – that are soldered together in layers to created designs. His jewelry incorporates lapidary work in turquoise, coral, malachite and coral in his jewelry. He favors turquoise from the Sleeping Beauty Mine, Kingman Mine, and Spider Mine. ^[3] He also has made silver jars and vases using his distinct overlay technique, as well as vessels in the squat shape of Sikiyaki pottery ^[7]

Dawahoya worked for a time at Wayne and Emory Sekaquaptewa's silversmithing shop, Hopi Enterprise in Phoenix and later in Kykotsmovi after the shop moved locations. ^[8] In 1960 he opened his own shop on Second Mesa, called Dawa's Crafts Shop. ^[6]

Writing in the book, Reassessing Hallmarks of Native Southwest Jewelry (2014), authors Pat and Messier state that Dawahoya is "considered one of the most prominent silversmiths of his generation. He used heavier gauge silver than most overlay artists, and his designs were bold and elegant; his cuts were crisp and precise." ^[9]

Collections

Dawahoya's work is held in many private collections, as well as the permanent collection of Harvard University’s Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, ^[2] the Mint Museum, ^[10] among other museums.

References

1. "Dawahoya, Bernard (AZ): P36252, P37948". Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of the American Indian. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
2. "Bernard Dawahoya". Eddie Basha Collection. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
3. Hice, Michael (1 January 1970). "Honoring the elders". Southwest Art. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
4. "Object Monday: Washington Talayumptewa earrings". Maxwell Museum of Anthropology. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
5. Schaaf, Gregory; Schaaf, Angie Yan (2003). American Indian Jewelry I: 1200 Artist Biographies (American Indian Art Series). CIAC.
6. Hougart, Billie (2020). 100 Collectible Native American Silversmiths And Their Hallmarks. TBR International. ISBN   9780971120280 . Retrieved 29 October 2025.
7. Pardue, Diana F. (2007). Contemporary Southwestern Jewelry. Gibbs Smith, Publisher. p. 91. ISBN   9781423601906 . Retrieved 29 October 2025.
8. Wright, Margaret Nickelson (2003). Hopi Silver The History and Hallmarks of Hopi Silversmithing. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press. ISBN   9780826333827 . Retrieved 29 October 2025.
9. Messier, Pat; Messier, Kim (2014). -Reassessing Hallmarks of Native Southwest Jewelry. Schiffer Publishing, Limited. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
10. "Bernard Dawahoya". Mint Museum. Retrieved 29 October 2025.