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Nathan Fred, Jr. — Hopi Silversmith

Hallmark namecard for Nathan Fred, Jr. -- Hopi silversmith

Name-card placeholder — hallmark imagery to follow

Nathan Fred, Jr. — Hopi Silversmith

Overview

Nathan Fred, Jr. (1942–; Hopi) has been active since the 1960s, working in overlay and cast work, including silver and gold. He is the father of Julian Fred (Hopi overlay; mark: J F conjoined) and Perry Fred (Hopi overlay; marks: P F, PL co-marked with Petra Lamson) — both documented in Hougart in their own entries. Some of Nathan Fred Jr.'s work may be marked for Hopicrafts, the Hopi cooperative silversmithing enterprise. His marks are **N F** (conjoined) and **NJ R** (conjoined).

Nathan Fred, Sr. (a separate Hopi silversmith, also active since the 1960s, working in overlay) is also documented in Hougart with the marks NF (chisel cut) and NF (conjoined; may be with an arrow or a Hopicrafts mark). Sr. and Jr. are distinct individuals; mark attribution between them requires careful contextual analysis, particularly for pieces with simple NF marks.

The candidates-y.jsonl entry (slug: nathan-fred, ~line 14329) refers to Nathan Fred Jr., whose son Julian Fred is at that same passage.

The Mark

"Nathan Fred, Jr. (1942–; Hopi). Active since 1960s. Overlay; cast work; silver, gold. Father of Julian and Perry Fred. May be marked for Hopicrafts. Marks: N F (conjoined); NJ R (conjoined)"
— Hougart, Bille. *Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks*, 5th ed. (2022), approx. p. ~14339.

Marks: **N F** (conjoined); **NJ R** (conjoined). Some pieces may carry Hopicrafts mark. Distinguish from Nathan Fred Sr. (NF chisel cut or NF conjoined with arrow) when attributing marks.

Family Links

  • Father of Julian Fred (Hopi overlay; mark J F conjoined) — see Julian Fred
  • Father of Perry Fred (Hopi overlay; marks P F, PL)
  • Related: Nathan Fred, Sr. (Hopi overlay, NF marks — separate individual, both documented in Hougart)
  • The Fred family is part of the broader Hopi overlay silversmithing tradition

References

  • Hougart, Bille. *Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks*, 5th ed. Schiffer Publishing, 2022. Entry approx. p. ~14339.
  • Wright, Barton. *Hopi Silver*. 1999. (Referenced in footnote for Perry Fred's co-mark with Petra Lamson.)

Know more about Nathan Fred Jr. or the Hopi Fred silversmithing family? Contact T.Skies.

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