Lewis Lomay (Lomayesva) — Hopi Silversmith

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Lewis Lomay (Lomayesva) (c.1915–1996; Hopi) was active from the 1930s until his death in 1996. An artist and silversmith, he worked in overlay and fabricated techniques in both silver and gold — producing jewelry, flatware, and set stones, with some chip inlay. He was a student of Ambrose Roanhorse (see Ambrose Roanhorse), whose foundational role in training Hopi and Navajo silversmiths shaped a generation of practitioners.

Lewis Lomay worked for many years as a silversmith at Frank Patania's Thunderbird Shop in Santa Fe, NM (see Frank Patania Sr.). He also worked at the Rainbow Man in Santa Fe, circa 1960s–1970s. He later opened his own shop in Santa Fe — Hopi Indian Silver. Lomay was a multiple award winner. He was the father of Irvin Lomay (see Irvin Lomay) and Peggy Lomay.

His son Irvin Lomay (Hopi), active since the 1980s, carries on the family silversmithing tradition with marks I L (with a snake between or after the letters) and I L. Irvin's son James Rawn Lomay (1965–; Hopi) also works as a contemporary overlay silversmith.

"Lewis Lomay (lomayesva) (c.1915-1996; Hopi). Active 1930s-1996. Artist and silversmith. Overlay; fabricated. Silver, gold; jewelry, flatware; set stones; some chip inlay. A student of Ambrose Roanhorse, he worked for many years as a silversmith at Frank Patania's Thunderbird Shop in Santa Fe, NM. He also worked at the Rainbow Man in Santa Fe, NM, circa 1960s-1970s. He opened his own shop in Santa Fe (Hopi Indian Silver). Father of Irvin and Peggy Lomay. Multiple award winner. Marks: L, inside a sun (known to be used in 1970s); a snake (some early pieces were stamped with only a snake); L (and snake); LL (and snake); LL; LOMAY SILVER SANTA FE (and snake); LL. Hopi Silver; etched LL and snake on some small items" — Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022), approx. p. ~19631.

Lewis Lomay used a distinctive series of marks evolving over his long career: an L inside a sun (1970s); a snake device (used alone on early pieces); L and snake; LL and snake; LL alone; LOMAY SILVER SANTA FE and snake; LL Hopi Silver; and etched LL with snake on small items. The snake is the consistent visual thread across his mark history.

Know more about Lewis Lomay or the Hopi overlay tradition? Contact T.Skies.