Very Large Navajo Sterling/ Gem Turquoise Concho Belt. Vintage/Antique. 934 gm

This is an old belt. No signature, as is typical of the early Navajo silverwork. Lots to love about this one. I would be guessing about the mine, like most people are.

Old style with holes punched around the center repousse medalion. The center piece with the rays chiseled in tn it, surrounding the stone, is overlaid after the repousse is finished, and additional step in the manufacture. I tightened a stone that was loose and found that it was seated in the old way, with sawdust under it as padding to prevent breakage, another clue to its age. The "4 sacred mountains" of Navajoland on the buckle are repoussed, but not decorated on the top with stamping, as later belts with that basic design tend to be. The simpler design is desirable. The silver pieces laid touching each other are 39" long but the holes end at 33". The last owner would have to take off two or three conchos to wear it.

With a tight 1" between silver pieces, there is enough silver for a belt for a 53" waist, and with 2" between the conchos and the butterflies, 67". This is a very heavy, and huge belt. You are not likely to find a belt with 7 pieces more than 4 long PLUS butterflies. Buckle - 4.75 x 3.25 Concho 4.25 x 3.5; Butterfly 3.25 x 1.5 6 Conchos, 7 Butterrlies, 1 Buckle. 75 on the buckle and conchos, between.

25 on the butterflies 17 stones in all. The item "Very Large Navajo Sterling/ Gem Turquoise Concho Belt.

934 gm" is in sale since Saturday, February 15, 2020. This item is in the category "Collectibles\Cultures & Ethnicities\Native American\ US\1800-1934\Jewelry". The seller is "pnpalmharbor" and is located in Palm Harbor, Florida. This item can be shipped worldwide.

• Provenance: Winders Collection
• Tribal Affiliation: Navajo

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