Navajo, Southwest
1930s
Sterling silver, turquoise, leather
Six conchos, each 2 inches by 2 1/2 inches (5.1 by 6.4 cm)
Six butterflies, each 1 inch by 1 3/4 inches (2.5 by 4.4 cm)
Buckle 2 inches by 2 3/4 inches (5.1 by 7 cm)
Belt length 29 inches (73.7 cm)
270.33 grams
Provenance: Private collection, Taos, New Mexico
The belt carries six scalloped oval conchos alternating with six butterfly spacers on a dark leather strap, each concho worked in repoussé and stamped with radiating quadrants and small foliate punches, and set with a green turquoise cabochon at the center. The rectangular buckle is stamped with elongated leaf punches and framed by a serrated border, and carries two green turquoise stones set at top and bottom of the open center. Copper loops on the reverse of each plaque carry the leather beneath, in the third phase construction, and the silver has taken a deep patina from long use.
The turquoise throughout is green rather than blue, cut and matched across all thirteen plaques, and the leather is worn dark and soft at the fold. At 270 grams the belt is heavy for its 29 inch length, indicating conchos of substantial gauge rather than thin sheet.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
Navajo, Southwest
1930s
Sterling silver, turquoise, leather
Six conchos, each 2 inches by 2 1/2 inches (5.1 by 6.4 cm)
Six butterflies, each 1 inch by 1 3/4 inches (2.5 by 4.4 cm)
Buckle 2 inches by 2 3/4 inches (5.1 by 7 cm)
Belt length 29 inches (73.7 cm)
270.33 grams
Provenance: Private collection, Taos, New Mexico
The belt carries six scalloped oval conchos alternating with six butterfly spacers on a dark leather strap, each concho worked in repoussé and stamped with radiating quadrants and small foliate punches, and set with a green turquoise cabochon at the center. The rectangular buckle is stamped with elongated leaf punches and framed by a serrated border, and carries two green turquoise stones set at top and bottom of the open center. Copper loops on the reverse of each plaque carry the leather beneath, in the third phase construction, and the silver has taken a deep patina from long use.
The turquoise throughout is green rather than blue, cut and matched across all thirteen plaques, and the leather is worn dark and soft at the fold. At 270 grams the belt is heavy for its 29 inch length, indicating conchos of substantial gauge rather than thin sheet.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
