Cippy Crazyhorse

Cippy Crazyhorse learned the basics of silversmithing from his father, Joe H. Quintana who worked in production shops in Santa Fe in the 1930's He subsequently worked in Albuquerque making jewelry designed by his wife.

Born in 1946, Cippy studied anthropology at Eastern New Mexico University & served in the U.S. Navy in the early 1970's. When he married his wife Sue, he returned to the family land at Cochiti Pueblo & worked as an electrician on the Cochiti Dam until an accident left a foot partially disabled. It was then that he became a full time silversmith to support his growing family.

As a master silversmith, Cippy Crazyhorse makes his own tools & casts his own silver ingots, hammering them to the desired thickness so that the deeply grooved chisel work for which he is known, will be sustained. His inspiration comes from pottery & the patterns on radial tires, uniquely recognizable, contemporary work for which he consistently receives top awards.