The Rich History of our Hallmark

In the world of fine jewelry, there lies a hidden language, a signature that speaks volumes about a piece's origin, its maker, and materials. This is the language of the hallmark.

At its core, a hallmark is akin to an artist's signature on a painting; it's the distinctive mark, usually stamped discreetly on the back or an inconspicuous part of a jewelry piece. On any quality piece of jewelry, you should always find at least two crucial hallmarks:

1. The Maker's Mark: This signifies the artisan or company behind the creation.

2. The Metal Purity Mark: This denotes the type and purity of the metal used. For instance, you'll commonly see ".925" for sterling silver, ".999" for pure silver, designations like "14K" or "24K" for gold, or "PAL" for palladium. If a piece combines more than one metal, such as sterling silver with gold accents, you'll find both metals precisely marked.

   
   
   
   

These tiny symbols are vital. They are a promise of authenticity, a testament to craftsmanship, and a key to understanding a piece's journey from raw material to cherished heirloom. For our family, these marks tell an even deeper story – one of four generations dedicated to the art of jewelry.

The Patania Legacy: A Tapestry of Hallmarks

Our family's journey in jewelry began in 1927 when Frank Patania Sr. founded the Thunderbird Shop in Santa Fe. From those early days, through the expansion to Tucson in 1937, and down through the generations, our hallmarks have evolved, each mark shaping a chapter in our family's rich history.

As our second-generation master, Frank Patania Jr., explained, the history of our hallmarks is "not so simple." His insights provide a precious window into the early days of the Patania Family's craft:

"My dad [Frank Patania Sr.] did not believe that hallmarking his early work was particularly important, so most of his earliest pieces may not have been hallmarked at all. On his more important pieces, he would rocker engrave "FP" in a diamond shape on the back of the piece."

Frank Sr.'s early rocker engraved hallmark.

However, as the "Thunderbird Style" blossomed under his tutelage, incorporating the skilled hands of Native American and Hispanic silversmiths, the need for a distinguishing shop mark emerged. It was then, in the late 1930s, that the iconic "Thunderbird" symbol was chosen, marking the collective spirit of the Thunderbird Shop.

Thunderbird shop hallmark.

The desire for a more personal signature soon followed, and a conjoined "FP" was introduced. This mark, along with the Thunderbird and Sterling stamps, appeared in various combinations on pieces crafted by Frank Sr. himself or under his close supervision.

Another example of the Thunderbird shop hallmark, made by a trusted craftsman under Frank Sr.'s watch.

The 1950s saw the introduction of two new oval "cartouche FP" marks, one with a raised "FP" (often used on more elaborate pieces) and another with a thin-line "script FP". Each mark was chosen to distinguish certain pieces and styles, showcasing the growing artistry within the Patania workshop.

The most well-known and sought-after Frank Sr. hallmark.

Frank Sr.'s script hallmark, also highly sought after.

Passing the Torch: Hallmarks Through Generations

Frank Patania Jr., learning the trade from his father, eventually developed his distinct mark. As he shared:

"After my dad died in 1964, I continued making the Thunderbird Style jewelry... At this time, I designed my own 'FP Jr.' hallmark. I used the standard "Block FP", but with a small chisel, I added a horizontal line across the bottom part of the "P". The idea for this came from the old guild marks, where the guild founder’s mark was added to by each of the succeeding persons heading the guild."

This innovative adaptation of guild tradition beautifully illustrates the blend of respect for heritage and individual artistic expression that defines our family. Later, in the 1980s, Frank Jr. had this "FP Jr." mark custom-made into two sizes.

Frank Patania Jr.'s Hallmark.

The third generation, Sam Patania, took charge of the Tucson shop in the late 1980s. Continuing the tradition, Sam first devised his mark – an "S" with a line forming a conjoined "P".

Sam's earliest hallmark.

By 1990, he created a hallmark that truly encapsulated the lineage: conjoining his "S" to the bottom of the Sr. and Jr. "FP" marks, representing all three generations in one cohesive symbol.

Sam's current and most well known hallmark.

Sam later introduced the "Patania Collection" hallmark, a "C" encompassing the three-generation mark, for pieces representing original Patania designs that have been modified slightly to fit everyday needs and can be easily reproduced.

The first everyday collection hallmark.

The Fourth Generation: Honoring Heritage, Forging New Paths

Today, our family's legacy continues with the fourth generation, Marco Patania. Marco has chosen a distinctive hallmark that reflects his unique vision while carrying forward the family name: a bold "MSP". This personal mark graces his exceptional, singular works, a modern declaration of artistic mastery.

Marco's current hallmark.

For our new collection of everyday wear pieces and faithful reproductions of classic Patania designs, we've carefully updated and streamlined our Collection hallmark. It's a thoughtful nod to our enduring lineage: a prominent "C" for Collection with four crossbars enclosing a sleek "P" elegantly distilling the four generations of excellence that have shaped every piece of jewelry we create.

The newest everyday collection hallmark.

These marks are more than just stamps into metal; they are storytellers. They represent decades of dedication, unparalleled expertise in silver and turquoise, a deep respect for materials and craftsmanship, and an unbroken chain of artistry passed down through our family. When you hold Patania Jewelry, you have a piece of this remarkable history, authenticated by the very signatures of our family's legacy.

For more information please refer to our book Legendary Patania Jewelry: in the Tradition of the Southwest written by Kim and Pat Messier.