This gorgeous, heavy belt is. Leather, about 1/8 thick with 12 adjustable/sliding conchos. Each concho is a vintage 1921silver dollar surrounded by 14 turquoise cabochons & 14 fluted small silver cones attached to a round leather plate, with a slider bar welded in place on the back so they can be moved along the belt. Buckle measures 3 x. The turquoise color in the photos is quite close to the original; a bright clear medium blue. It has been taken care of very well over the years. Buckle is signed Buffalo Dancer/sterling. Buffalo Dancer is one of the finest Native American jewelry makers, known for their high quality and stunning designs; located in Taos, NM. Artists doing work for Buffalo Dancer have included Lawrence Archuleta, John Concha, Lisa Concha and Rodney Concha from Pg. B-81, Native American & Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 3. I personally believe this is the work of Archuleta, as the designs are very similar to some of his other work I have seen. It isnt signed with his name, though. The first concho belts were made by Navajo silversmiths in the 1870s-1880s. In these early pieces, artisans punched a diamond-shaped opening in each concho and passed the leather belt through this opening. When Navajo silversmiths learned soldering, they were able to attach a loop to the back of a closed concho and thread the belt through these loops, forming the classic concho belt style that we are familiar with today. More than a century after its creation, the concho belt remains one of the most celebrated forms of Native American art, showcasing the artistry and expertise of Native Southwestern silversmiths. The traditional style of wearing concho belts is over layered clothing, often gathering a long blouse or dress. The belt usually falls over the hips, though the wearer can determine exactly where the belt sits most comfortably. Info is from the Shumakolowa Jewelry Collectors Guide. The item “NATIVE AMERICAN STERLING SILVER & TURQUOISE CONCHO BELT” is in sale since Thursday, July 5, 2018. This item is in the category “Jewelry & Watches\Ethnic, Regional & Tribal\Native American\Other Native American Jewelry”. The seller is “shawlerinc” and is located in Greenbrae, California. This item can be shipped to United States.
- Jewelry Type: Concho Belt
- Main Stone: Turquoise
- Metal: Sterling Silver
- Country of Origin: USA