Charles Loloma

Charles Loloma (1921-1991) was a Hopi American Indian from the Badger Clan. Although he was a painter, potter and sculptor, he was best known for his jewelry. He started making jewelry in 1955 and changed the look of Hopi jewelry.

He experimented with turquoise, coral, lapis lazuli, ivory, and exotic woods, which was unusual at the time. Many of his bracelets and pendants are made of vertical slabs of stones stacked next to each other. One of his trademarks was to line the inside of a bracelet or ring with stones more valuable than those on the outside. He studied ceramics at the School of American Craftsmen at Alfred University. His work has been exhibited internationally and represented in numerous collections nationwide.

Charles Loloma, Silver Channel-Set Bracelet, c. 1975. Courtesy of Ornament Magazine, Robert K. Liu photograph, assisted by Karen Williamson
Charles Loloma, Silver Channel-Set Bracelet, c. 1975. Courtesy of Ornament Magazine, Robert K. Liu photograph, assisted by Karen Williamson
Charles Loloma, Bracelet. Courtesy of Ornament Magazine, Robert K. Liu photograph, assisted by Karen Williamson
Charles Loloma, Bracelet. Courtesy of Ornament Magazine, Robert K. Liu photograph, assisted by Karen Williamson