Native American, Southwestern United States, Navajo (Dine), ca. mid to late 20th century CE. A stunning concho style belt composed of ten large sterling silver settings, each holding a massive, nearly flat-polished turquoise cabochon. The stones, rich in sky-blue color with natural matrix inclusions, are secured in sawtooth bezels and framed with twisted wire and granulated silverwork. The reverse of each concho (except the buckle) has a pair of copper loops for attachment, while the buckle features a prong and articulated loop for fastening. Mounted on a simple black vinyl leather strap, this piece is wearable as-is or can be refitted to a custom leather belt for a more refined presentation. The reverse of the buckle is stamped "STERLING" and marked with an "R", a hallmark shared by multiple Navajo silversmiths, making precise attribution uncertain. Size of buckle setting: 3" L x 2.25" W (7.6 cm x 5.7 cm); strap: 46" L x 1.5" W (116.8 cm x 3.8 cm); silver quality: 92% to 93%; weight: 652 grams
Provenance: private Lafayette, Colorado, USA collection
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#196772
Condition
Dark patina and toning. Minor scratches to turquoise stones. Intact and excellent condition. Strung on a vinyl strap and wearable, but strap could be updated as one desired.