Information on Navajo Overlay Artist Willie Yazzie
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I believe Willie A. Yazzie, Jr was working in the Albuquerque & Gallup areas and may have passed away around 2005. Any information about his life, his family (Father was also a silversmith & used the same Medicine Man's Dipper hallmark), where he worked (Did he work by himself of for a particular shop?) Who taught him the overlay technique - Did he learn from a Hopi? Thanks for any feedback
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I don't know him or about him personally, but here is an image of a piece being sold at http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/23464
It certainly does look Hopi. The roadrunner conch alone makes the belt worth the quoted price IMO. Very cool.
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Hello,
I was browsing through and found this. I am Willie Yazzie Jr., I also go by William P. Yazzie. My late father was Willie A. Yazzie and the photos shown above are his work. My mother also does the same type of silverwork. I still do the same style work but not as much because of my full time job in NE Arizona. My Father learned the trade at Dean Kirk's trading which was a kind of a trade school located west of Gallup during the late 50's and early 60's. From there he sold his product to various traders in the Gallup area eventually expanding to other areas of the southwest. Each summer from 1960 to about 1983 he worked at Mesa Verde National Park Colorado to demonstrate Navajo Silversmithing for thousands of visitors from all over. He passed away in 1999. -
I recently purchased this beautiful Willie Yazzie bracelet....I love it! Hoping someone can tell me more about it, aprox. age, etc.....thanks to all; most thanks to the Yazzie family for the beautiful craftsmanship and sharing with us all.
IMG_0221.jpg373 x 500 - 2M
IMG_0222.jpg373 x 500 - 2M
IMG_0223.jpg373 x 500 - 2M
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