Alvin Fuson – Native American Silversmith Hallmark Guide

About Alvin Fuson

Alvin Fuson is a Native American silversmith whose sterling silver jewelry is identified by a distinctive and somewhat unusual maker's mark. While detailed biographical information on Alvin is harder to come by than for some of his contemporaries, his jewelry circulates widely enough among collectors and dealers of Southwest silver that his hallmark has become a recognizable fixture in the field.

Identifying Alvin Fuson's Work

Fuson's hallmark appears either as "Al Fuson Sterling" spelled out, or as a more stylized mark: an upside-down F connected together with "Sterling" and "USA." This second version is worth noting carefully, since an inverted letter can easily be mistaken for a design flourish rather than a signature if you're not specifically looking for it. Once you know the mark, though, it becomes fairly easy to spot on pieces attributed to him.

Why Hallmarks Matter

For collectors of vintage and estate Native American jewelry, a clear hallmark like Alvin's is one of the most reliable ways to trace a piece back to its maker, particularly when a piece has changed hands several times and its original paperwork or provenance has been lost along the way.

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