Howard Sice - Native American - Hopi/Laguna (Retired)

Howard Sice (Hopi - Laguna)  Arizona, USA  Native American jewelry artist.  

Due to health issues that have robbed him of most of his eyesight, Howard is no longer working.

He is self taught. Over his career, he  received countless awards, including Best of Show and 1st Place.  He was raised on the Laguna Pueblo in Paraje, NM but split time with relatives in Hopi so his work displays strong influences from both cultures.  

He served twenty years in the Air Force inclusive of a year in Vietnam.  While in the service he obtained a degree in a special area of medical research (lab work).

While still in the service, in 1972, he started working in jewelry. Over the years, he continually added to his skills. It was once he started engraving in 1985 that his metal work became distinctly identifiable.

I love that, to the end, he still did small, dainty pieces that are affordable to virtually anyone.  

I purchased a pair of his earrings, for myself, in an airport store in Denver 35 years ago, without knowing who he was. I still love them and wear them regularly.

In this 2010's, he started working with several very interesting materials.  The first is Niobium. What I purchased of that always sold immediately, usually before I had a chance to post them. Niobium is a metal that, when oxidized, can take on some beautiful colors.

The other metal Howard worked with, regularly is Argentium silver. Standard Sterling is 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper.  Argentium is classified as Sterling as it still has a 92.5% silver content but a small portion of the copper has been replaced by Germanium.  The result is startling.  There are a number of advantages to the artist in how they can work with the material but to the end user (and me) the difference is the huge reduction is tarnishing. The finished work also is amazingly bright, noticeably more so than even the most polished standard Sterling.

Argentium requires makers (artists) be registered with them to utilize the distinct hallmark of a flying unicorn. Howard is a registered user and most, if not all of his later work was comprised of Argentium.  I make note if it is Argentium.  Artists may USE Argentium without registration but may not use the hallmark.  I had some work by Myron Panteah that I'm all but certain was Argentium but was not hallmarked as such.

Howard's business was a family affair with both his wife, Patricia and daughter, being heavily involved.  Sadly, Patricia passed in 2022.  His daughter, Adrienne is an accomplished silversmith but, according to Howard (Aug 2026), has not been active for sometime.   

They are/were lovely people.  I looked forward to enjoying their company at Santa Fe Indian Market, Prescott, and Heard.

Any items I have remaining are new, not pre-owned, but purchased years ago.  If I know the year, I will make note of it.

LUD 0826