Leonard Martza — Silversmith

Leonard Martza — Zuni silversmith hallmark namecard

Name-card placeholder — hallmark imagery to follow

Overview

Leonard Martza (1928–) is a Zuni silversmith active since the late 1940s, recognized for multiple styles including wrought, mosaic inlay, and stone sets. He is best known for butterfly, rainbow man, and knife wing motifs. He collaborated with Betty Natachu, Lisa Tucson (his niece), and Margaret Edaakie. During the 1950s and 1960s he worked for C. G. Wallace and the Gallup Indian Trading Company, and at Pueblo Trading near Zuni. The Hougart corpus notes that much of the inlay jewelry bearing his mark was silver base work he produced, while the inlay stone sets were designed and supplied by others. His mark is not specified in the recovered corpus excerpt.

Living artist; extra care taken for accuracy.

The Mark

"Leonard Martza (1928-; Zuni). Active since late 1940s. Multiple styles; wrought; mosaic inlay; butterfly, rainbow man and knife wing motifs; stone sets. Collaborates with Betty Natachu, Lisa Tucson (his niece) and Margaret Edaakie. 8 Worked for C. G. Wallace and the Gallup Indian Trading Company during 1950s and 1960s, and also worked at Pueblo Trading near Zuni. Much of the inlay jewelry marked for Leonard Martza was probably fabricated by others and Martza made the silver base upon which the inlay was mounted. The inlay stone sets were designed and supplied by others. Virginia Bobelu collabo"

— Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022), approx. p. ~20974.

The mark as documented in the Hougart corpus: Not stated in recovered corpus excerpt; possibly his name or initials.

References

Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. Schiffer Publishing, 2022. Entry approx. p. ~20974.

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