Charlie Bitsui — Navajo Silversmith Hallmark

Name-card placeholder — hallmark imagery to follow.

Navajo · documented in the T.Skies hallmark library

Charlie Bitsui (1916–deceased; Navajo) was active from the 1920s through the 1960s. His techniques included stamp work, set stones, nuggets, inlay, cast work, bracelets, pins, miniatures, and boxes. He worked as a jeweler near Zuni for the trading post owned by Charles Kelsey.

The Hougart record further notes that he worked for C. G. Wallace, alongside Ike Wilson. The 1940 census lists Bitsui living in Apache, AZ, near Zuni Pueblo. A 1975 Sotheby/Parke Bernet auction catalog listed him as "Charles Bitsui." He was the brother of Katherine Wilson, wife of Ike Wilson.

An important attribution note: a flower stamp documented in the Hougart record was recorded next to a known C. G. Wallace arrowshop mark, and may have been used by Charlie Bitsui — though other smiths may also have used the flower stamp.

The mark

A flower stamp is attributed to Charlie Bitsui in the Hougart record, with the note that the flower stamp was recorded next to a known C. G. Wallace arrowshop mark. Attribution is documented with the caveat that other smiths may also have used this stamp.

References

• Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. Schiffer Publishing, 2022. Entry approx. p. ~9721.
• Adair, John. The Navajo and Pueblo Silversmiths. University of Oklahoma Press, 1944. (Cited in Hougart 5e footnote 38.)
• Cirillo, 1992 (cited in Hougart 5e).
• Chalker, 2004 (cited in Hougart 5e).

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