Antique Vintage Sterling Silver Native Zuni Turquoise Inlay Belt Buckle 62.4g

Description

We have similar Turquoise and Zuni items, which would pair nicely with this piece, for sale this week. To view in separate listings, please visit our store and search "Turquoise" or "Zuni" under our Buy-It-Now items.
Item Description by: Angela A.
The Piece
Age Circa:
Vintage Zuni C. 1960
Markings:
Unmarked, tested, and guaranteed
Country of Origin:
United States - Zuni Nation
Brand:
Unknown
Gram Weight:
62.4 grams
Metal Type:
.925 sterling silver copper, copper belt holders
Material:
--
Main Stone:
Turquoise
Main Stone Measurements/Color:
Length:
8.69 mm
Width:
6.38 mm
Color:
opaque bright blue hue with a brown-grey matrix
Accent Stone:
Turquoise chip inlay, red coral chip inlay
Accent Stone Measurements/Color:
Turquoise chip inlay:
0.72 mm to 2.71 mm long, 0.56 mm to 1.77 mm wide, opaque lighter and darker blue and aqua-blue hues
Red coral chip inlay:
1.15 mm to 3.32 mm length, 0.95 mm to 1.8 mm wide, opaque lighter and darker red hues
Stone Treatment:
The stone(s) appear to be untreated, but we are not certified gemologists. Stone(s) have been tested and guaranteed using a professional Presidium Duo refractive, heat, and hardness tester.
Stone Cuts:
Carved and polished cabochon turquoise, turquoise and red coral chip inlay
Item Measurements:
Length:
3.39"
Width:
2.31"
Belt opening measurement:
1.50" across
Collectible Type:
Belt buckle
Men's or Women's:
Unisex
Notable Features:
Handmade by a talented Zuni silversmith in the 1960s
Composed of .925 sterling silver
Features a center turquoise stone with a bright blue hue and a with a brown-grey matrix
This stone rests in a saw tooth bezel setting surrounded by a rope twist motif
Four huge sterling silver bead motifs accent the turquoise
On each end of the center turquoise, a large thunderbird motif appears to spread its wings around the turquoise
Turquoise and red coral chip inlay stones adorn these thunderbird motifs
Hand-hammered stamped sunburst designs adorn the edges of the buckle
The buckle was finished with two copper belt holders to hold a belt securely
Damage:
Age appropriate wear. There is a minor surface fissure in the turquoise stone, which does not affect wear, and the stone remains secure. Tarnish on the sterling silver gives this piece an antique quality which we believe is quite lovely. The price has been reduced to reflect this.
*This listing is for the item only. All display boxes and/or photography props do not come with your purchase.*
The History
This beautiful piece was made by a very talented Native American silversmith. It features handcrafted silversmith work throughout. Antique Native American jewelry is very rare to find. This is due to these pieces being made for reservation and personal use before the tourist trade became popular. Very few pieces were made and even less survived to today.
The concept of Pawn, Old Pawn, and Dead Pawn Native American Jewelry came to be in the 1800s. During this time, trading posts had become commonplace for Native Americans to go and exchange food, tools, and other materials with Colonists. Essentially, banks would loan the shop owners money which was then invested into loans for Native Americans in exchange for their jewelry. When a loan wasn’t repaid, the item became known as either “Old Pawn” or “Dead Pawn.”
Zuni jewelry is very distinct from other Native American tribes; it most notably features gorgeous inlay designs, as well as petit point and needle point stone work. These highly detailed techniques, combined with exceptional metal work, makes the Zuni tribe one of the best-known jewelry making tribes in the world.
The Zuni Nation is well known for their stone inlay work, mosaic-like images depicting religious and cultural motifs created from materials that were readily available. Their modern work is well known for its bold stone colors; often turquoise and coral are used. It is rare for their pieces to be signed, as the Zuni People believe artwork belongs to the entire community.
Chip inlay is a method of filling indentations or cavities in jewelry with crushed stone, usually turquoise or red coral, mixed with some sort of resin or epoxy. After the resin hardens, the piece is polished down for a smooth surface that exhibits a beautiful, mosaic-like effect. This technique is first credited to jewelry artist, Tommy Singer, in 1970. It remains one of the most sought after styles of Native American jewelry.
Turquoise is found all over the world and has been a popular semi-precious stone used in jewelry and art for thousands of years by many different cultures; from prehistoric times to the present. Turquoise comes in many beautiful color variations; from the popular bright solid sky-blue hues to dark blue hues with dark spiderwebbing throughout, as well as aqua, teal, and many green varieties, and even some rare white with dark spiderwebbing.
Red Coral is a highly prized stone by Native American cultures and has long been used by artisans in the Southwest. Spanish traders introduced coral to the Navajo, Zuni, Hopi, and other tribes, and it quickly became a sign and symbol of wealth and status in many different Native American cultures. It varies in color from deep red to orange, with red being the preferred choice of Native American jewelry makers.
Domestic US
: All items ship within one business day
of receiving payment. Buyers will have 3 base shipping options to choose from, depending on the needed speed of delivery. Pricing on single and multi-purchase transactions can be seen below:
Auction Items:
Base shipping + .00 per additional gold item & BIN items combine for free
BIN Items:
FREE
Base Shipping:
USPS
First Class
: .00 fully insured, estimated 3-5 business days
USPS
Priority Mail
: .00 fully insured, estimated 2-3 business days
USPS
Priority Express
: .00 fully insured, overnight delivery
International
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We do not undervalue packages for customs, please do not ask us
to do so. What you pay is what we will claim on your customs form.
Please take this into consideration before placing your bid.
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