Jobeth D. Mayes — Zuni Silversmith

Name-card placeholder — hallmark imagery to follow.

Jobeth D. Mayes (Zuni) has been active since 1971. A potter and silversmith, she works in cluster work, channel inlay, and shadowbox. She is the granddaughter of Leekya Deyuse (see Leekya Deyuse), one of the most celebrated figures in Zuni lapidary and fetish carving of the twentieth century. Her work carries the Leekya family's deep Zuni artistic lineage forward.

Jobeth Mayes works across two craft traditions — silversmithing and pottery — which is a distinguishing characteristic within the Zuni artistic community. Her silverwork reflects the Zuni inlay and cluster traditions that the Leekya family helped define.

"Jobeth D. Mayes (Zuni). Active since 1971. Potter and silversmith. Cluster work; channel inlay; shadowbox. Granddaughter of Leekya Deyuse. Mark: Jobeth Mayes (and Zuni Maize in etched script surrounding a corn stalk)" — Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022), approx. p. ~21067.

The mark is Jobeth Mayes in full name script, often accompanied by a distinctive Zuni Maize device — an etched script surrounding a corn stalk. This double-element mark (name plus corn motif) identifies her work with Zuni agricultural symbolism.

Know more about Jobeth Mayes or the Leekya family Zuni tradition? Contact T.Skies.