Virgil Reeder Biography

Vital Statistics & Name Breakdown

• Birth Name: Virgil Reeder.

• Signature Hallmark: He hand-stamps his older works with the hallmark initials V.R. IHMSS (Indian Hand Made Sterling Silver) or his full name, Virgil Reeder, often accompanied by a copyright symbol.

• Tribe & Tribal Affiliation: Navajo Nation (Diné).

• Active Period: Late 20th century through the present day.

Active Period & Production

• Active Decades: From the early 1990s through the present day.

• Primary Mediums: Heavy-gauge sterling silver, 12K gold overlay, and natural gemstones like Manassa and Kingman turquoise. He specializes in heavy geometric cuffs, story-teller buckles, and horse-head pendants.

Technical Methods & Innovations

• Intricate Micro-Textured Backgrounds: Virgil is highly regarded for his complex metal texturing. He uses specialized hand-stamps and tufa-casting methods to create grainy, volcanic-like micro-textures across his silver backgrounds. [, 2]

• Precious Metal Overlay: He is a master of two-tone overlay. He sweats thick sheets of hand-cut 12K gold-filled metal directly onto deeply oxidized, textured silver back-plates, creating an eye-catching contrast between the polished gold and the dark, recessed silver base.

Signature Motifs & Designs

• Geometric Sunbursts: A highly technical overlay arrangement featuring multi-faceted gold rays emanating symmetrically from a central point, symbolizing the lifegiving sun.

• The Running War-Paint Horse: Energetic, fluidly cut gold overlay profiles of wild horses adorned with traditional hand-stamped warrior patterns.

• Gold Kokopelli Cuffs: Elegantly framed bracelets featuring gold-filled deity silhouettes playing flutes across a darkened, textured h