Elliot Koinva — Hopi Silversmith

Name-card placeholder — hallmark imagery to follow.

Hopi · documented in the T.Skies hallmark reference library

Elliot Koinva is a Hopi silversmith active since the 1970s, working in overlay. He is the brother of Lauren Koinva.

His brother Lauren Koinva (?–1981; Hopi) was active from the 1970s until his death in 1981, working in overlay and overlay with set stones. Lauren Koinva's documented marks include L K and a rattle pictorial stamp.

Overlay is the defining Hopi silversmithing technique, involving a cut-design top silver sheet soldered onto a darkened oxidized backing to create two-tone relief designs. Both Koinva brothers worked within this established Hopi tradition.

The Mark

"EK (sometimes with a Hopi Guild mark); a partial sun (perched on an arrow pointing right)" — Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022).

Two mark forms: the text mark EK, which may appear with a Hopi Guild authentication mark; and a pictorial stamp of a partial sun perched on a rightward-pointing arrow.

References

Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. Schiffer Publishing, 2022. Approx. p. ~18551.

Know more about this artist? Contact T.Skies.