Fred Thompson, Diné Silversmith

Master Navajo Nation artist Fred Thompson was an accomplished Diné Silversmith who started his jewelry making career at age 15 working for Turpen Trading Post in Gallup, New Mexico. (Schaaf 2003:306).  

He was still working for Turpen in the 1950s. (Messier 2014:116).  His hallmark was a tilde, sometimes a TT over a tilde, acknowledging his association with Tobe Turpen. (Hougart 2011:339) Fred Thompson was loyal to Turpen and never sold to any other Southwest Indian Jewelry dealers. 

Fred Thompson (1922-2002) had a brief break in his career when he served in World War II.  After returning, he continued silversmithing into the 1990s.