Victor Coochwytewa

Master Hopi Silversmith, Waterhouse Clan – Shungopavi, Second Mesa

Victor Coochwytewa is widely regarded as one of the most influential Hopi silversmiths of the 20th century. A master of overlay jewelry and a pillar of his community, his work helped define the standards and aesthetics that Hopi jewelers continue to follow today. His career, which spanned more than 60 years, earned him national recognition, including being named an Arizona Indian Living Treasure in 1994.

Born on June 7, 1922, in the village of Shungopavi on Second Mesa, Victor was a member of the Waterhouse Clan. He first learned the basics of silversmithing in 1940 under the guidance of Paul Saufkie. But his early career was interrupted by World War II, during which he served with distinction in the South Pacific. A member of the 167th Combat Military Police and later the 5309th Infantry Division under General Frank Merrill (Merrill’s Marauders), Victor saw heavy combat in Burma and was awarded the Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, and Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Ribbons.

After being honorably discharged in 1946, Victor returned to Hopi and became one of the first students in the now-legendary Veterans’ Classes established under the G.I. Bill. Taught by Fred Kabotie and Paul Saufkie, these classes marked the beginning of a new era in Hopi silversmithing. Victor not only mastered the overlay technique but innovated within it—introducing a background texturing method inspired by leatherwork that became a defining feature of Hopi overlay jewelry.

Victor's designs, executed in both sterling silver and gold, are known for their precision, spiritual depth, and elegant symbolism. Many of his pieces reflect Hopi traditions and cosmology, and his work has been collected by major institutions and private collectors around the world.

In addition to his artistry, Victor was deeply rooted in the traditional Hopi way of life. A lifelong dry farmer, he raised corn, squash, beans, and watermelons without irrigation or chemical inputs, relying entirely on prayer, ceremony, and natural rainfall. “Jewelry is my hobby; corn is my work,” he once said with characteristic humility. He attributed the success of both his crops and his craft to blessings from the Creator. “When you pray, you should pray for all things, and in return, all things are benefited. Nothing can be accomplished without prayer.”

Victor retired from silversmithing and farming in 2006 and continued to live with his family at Hopi until his passing on July 3, 2011, at the age of 89. Today, his legacy lives on in the work of his descendants and in the broader community of Hopi artists who follow the path he helped shape. His jewelry remains among the most iconic and sought-after expressions of Hopi artistry—no serious collection of Hopi overlay work is truly complete without a piece by Victor Coochwytewa.