Navajo, Southwest
1930s
Ingot silver, natural turquoise, leather
Buckle 2 inches by 2 inches (5.1 by 5.1 cm)
Nine conchos, each 2 1/2 inches by 2 1/2 inches (6.4 by 6.4 cm)
Belt length 45 1/2 inches (115.6 cm)
360.28 grams
Provenance: Santa Fe trade
The belt carries nine oval conchos and a rectangular buckle worked in hand hammered ingot silver, each concho raised in repoussé with a radiating lobed center and framed by rows of chisel stamping and a scalloped edge. Natural turquoise cabochons in blue with brown and gold matrix are set in hand cut oval bezels at the center of each concho and in the buckle. The reverse of each concho carries a single copper bar through which the one inch leather strap is threaded, in the third phase construction that replaced the slotted centers of earlier belts.
Hosteen Goodluck was among the early Navajo silversmiths, active from the 1890s into the 1930s, and his work is recognized for the control of its repoussé and stamp work. Third phase belts of this type carry the leather beneath the plaques rather than through them, which allowed the full face of each concho to be given over to design. The silver has taken a deep patina from age and the leather is worn soft, the belt having been held in a private collection over many years.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
Navajo, Southwest
1930s
Ingot silver, natural turquoise, leather
Buckle 2 inches by 2 inches (5.1 by 5.1 cm)
Nine conchos, each 2 1/2 inches by 2 1/2 inches (6.4 by 6.4 cm)
Belt length 45 1/2 inches (115.6 cm)
360.28 grams
Provenance: Santa Fe trade
The belt carries nine oval conchos and a rectangular buckle worked in hand hammered ingot silver, each concho raised in repoussé with a radiating lobed center and framed by rows of chisel stamping and a scalloped edge. Natural turquoise cabochons in blue with brown and gold matrix are set in hand cut oval bezels at the center of each concho and in the buckle. The reverse of each concho carries a single copper bar through which the one inch leather strap is threaded, in the third phase construction that replaced the slotted centers of earlier belts.
Hosteen Goodluck was among the early Navajo silversmiths, active from the 1890s into the 1930s, and his work is recognized for the control of its repoussé and stamp work. Third phase belts of this type carry the leather beneath the plaques rather than through them, which allowed the full face of each concho to be given over to design. The silver has taken a deep patina from age and the leather is worn soft, the belt having been held in a private collection over many years.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
