Charles Supplee

Charles Supplee (b.1959-2021)

Here is a photo from around the 1980’s of two of the greatest jewelers of all time, Charles Supplee and Pierre Touraine. Charles Supplee was known for his contemporary Hopi jewelry, which Pierre helped Charles advance his jewelry-making techniques. My great aunt Lovena Ohl worked with Pierre for over five years. We met Charles, and he started showing his jewelry in the gallery. Charles wasn’t the only artist who worked with Pierre but other master jewelers like Charles Loloma, Harvey Begay, and Larry Golsh.

During the 1930s, Pierre Touraine gained fame for making jewelry for European celebrities in France. In 1938, he relocated to the United States and worked for Harry Winston. His passion for Southwestern American Indian jewelry eventually led him to Arizona. Touraine had a profound influence on me, inspiring me to collaborate with the finest American Indian jewelers, a legacy I continue to uphold to this day.

Charles Supplee was born in Flagstaff, Arizona, in 1959. His mother is Hopi, and his Father is French. Charles grew up on the Navajo reservation where his father was a schoolteacher. He learned to make jewelry from his father, who did it as a hobby. As Charles learned and gained more recognition, he met Pierre Touraine, an award-winning French jewelry designer. In the 1980’s Pierre took Charles on for two years as an apprentice and this is where he learned the variety of techniques he still utilizes today. Charles Supplee is well known for a more contemporary jewelry style or wearable art for the wearer to enjoy. His younger brother, Don Supplee, noticed Charles and his talent for creating beautiful jewelry, which significantly influenced his jewelry design. Charles Supplee has endless talent, including his love for photography, painting, and Sculpture. He has been published in many books, including “Beyond Traditions” By Jerry Jacka.