Description
Chalmers Day Hopi Overlay belt buckle sterling silver kokopelli designs. Solid sterling silver with weight and measurements in pictures, some expected wear with no damage.
Chalmers was born October 24, 1956 in Keams Canyon, Arizona. Chalmers was given the Hopi name Dap-Hong-Va, and was born to the Corn and Water Clans. He is the grandson of Robert Satala, Sr., one of the Hopis earliest silversmiths and a merchant on the First Mesa in Arizona.
Chalmers Day learned his art from the Hopi master, Preston Monongye. As Dr. Gregory Schaaf in his book, American Indian Jewelry Artist Biographies states: “Chalmers specializes in very detailed and sophisticated designs in the overlay technique. The quality of his artistry is exceptional. His compositions combine village scenes, cornfields, kachinas and more in a single piece. His jewelry takes one on a journey into the Hopi world. His designs portray the life of the Hopi, their migrations, ceremonies and spiritual figures. He is recognized as one of the greatest overlay jewelers in history.
In 1976, Chalmers participated in one of Prestons jewelry classes. Preston continued to advise Chalmers in his jewelry craft.
Like the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Indians were the benefactors of the Spaniards silversmith tradition. While the two nations influences are evident in the art of the other, Hopi jewelry artists sought to distinguish themselves from other Southwestern Indian jewelry artists.
Beginning just before WWII, Hopi Indian jewelry artists have developed a characteristic style, one that uses few stones but intricate overlay design work. Today Chalmers Day is the most well-known Hopi jewelry artists. Day has been creating jewelry since 1972.
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