Mike Simplicio, Jr. — Zuni Silversmith

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# Mike Simplicio, Jr. — Zuni Silversmith

Mike Simplicio, Jr. (Zuni) is the son of Mike Simplicio, Sr. (19?–1976; Zuni) and the husband of Sarah Simplicio. He is part of the Simplicio silversmithing family — one of the major documented Zuni silversmithing lineages in the twentieth century.

His father Mike Simplicio, Sr. was active from the 1950s through the 1970s, working in nugget work, leaf applique, and scalloped bezels. Mike Sr. was the brother of Dan Simplicio (1917–1969; see Dan Simplicio), the widely documented master of traditional Zuni cluster work, channel inlay, and hollowware who worked with C. G. Wallace and John Kennedy. The family mark tradition carries the M. SIM PLICIO and M. S. SIMPLICIO forms across generations.

Mike Simplicio, Jr. shares stamps with his wife Sarah Simplicio. Sarah Simplicio (Zuni) has been active since the 1970s. Their marks overlap: M. S., M. S. SIMPLICIO, and S. SIMPLICIO are all documented Hougart marks for the husband-and-wife pair.

## The Mark

> "Mike Simplicio, Sr. (19?–1976; Zuni). Active 1950s–1970s. Nugget work; leaf applique; scalloped bezels. Brother of Dan Simplicio. Marks: S IMPLICIO; M (with a tilde) MIKE; M. SIM PLICIO" > — Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022), approx. p. ~26317.

> "Mike Simplicio, Jr. (Zuni). Son of Mike Simplicio, Sr. and husband of Sarah Simplicio. Mark: M. S. SIMPLICIO" > — Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022), approx. p. ~26317.

> "Sarah Simplicio (Zuni). Active since 1970s. Sarah Simplicio shares stamps with her husband Mike Simplicio, Jr. Marks: M. S.; M. S. SIMPLICIO; S. SIMPLICIO" > — Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022), approx. p. ~26317.

Attribution caution: The marks M. S. and M. S. SIMPLICIO are shared between Mike Simplicio, Jr. and his wife Sarah Simplicio. When a piece bears only M. S., attribution to either spouse individually is uncertain without additional documentation. S. SIMPLICIO marks work by Sarah; M. S. SIMPLICIO as a full form may appear on either's work per the Hougart note.

## Family Links

Son of Mike Simplicio, Sr. (Zuni)
Uncle: Dan Simplicio (1917–1969) — see Dan Simplicio
Wife: Sarah Simplicio (Zuni) — shared marks M. S. / M. S. SIMPLICIO / S. SIMPLICIO

## References - Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. Schiffer Publishing, 2022. Entry approx. p. ~26317.

Know more about Mike Simplicio or the Simplicio family Zuni silversmithing tradition? Contact T.Skies.