Augustine Lovato

MARCH 27, 2024

Augustine Lovato

January 5, 1917--November 4, 2015

Augustine Lovato was born to Diego Lovato and Juanita (Abeyta) Lovato - a family with a jewelry-making tradition. His work spans the time when Santo Domingo jewelry was made primarily with hand tools and for personal adornment, ceremony, and trade - through to the modern era in which museums exhibit his work, and modern lapidary equipment and machinery assist ancient technique.

Lovato was hired by Maisel's Trading Post in 1938 before joining the U.S. Army, and began work at Sun Bell (1954) upon his return. Among the many exhibits featuring his work are the Heard Museum, Indian Market in Santa Fe, New Mexico State Fair, Navajo Shiprock and Windowrock Fairs, Gallup Intertribal Ceremonial, and the Southwestern Museum, Los Angeles.

(Rita Yokoi, "Augustine Lovato: Traditional Santo Domingo Pueblo Jewelry Maker." Southwest Museum, Los Angeles. February, 1999.)