Large HARLAN JOSEPH Hopi BELT BUCKLE "Grizzly Bear" Sterling Silver Overlay

Description

Harlan Joseph - Hopi
Grizzly Bear Design
Traditional Hopi Overlay Technique Belt Buckle
Sterling Silver (.925 fine)
Dimensions
2.9" X 2.0"
will accept a belt of up to 1.6"
47.4 grams =  1.53 Troy ounces
(all measurements are approximate)
The US Quarter (.95"=24mm) and 0 Bill (2 5/8"=66mm) X (6 1/8"=155mm) is for scale
Hopi Belt Buckle
This Buckle was made by a talented Hopi artist. It is properly (but small in size!) Hallmarked on the reverse. It is also stamped "Sterling", and it is guaranteed to be Sterling Silver. This one is authoritative and powerful. Joseph uses a Hallmark that represents "Clouds and Pahos" I'm told that Pahos is translated as "Stick". The Grizzly Bear is sawed expertly with one pass. It is a strong but understated Belt Buckle.
This buckle is in excellent condition. There are no cracks, dents, or scratches, etc. in the Buckle's Sterling Silver. Please, take a closer look with the magnifier on the eBay picture program.
Hopi Silver and "Overlay Technique"
In the book "HOPI SILVER..." referenced below, Margaret Wright describes how Hopi silver is made and the post WWII history of its development in particular. She describes the 6 main steps in the creation of Hopi jewelry as we have come to know it.
"a tracing design; b sawing design; c soldering design to backing; d texturing background;  e filing to remove discoloration; f buffing"
I like her simple description comparing "overlay" to making cookie dough and using a cookie cutter to cut out stars, and then placing one layer of the dough with the cutouts on top of another (without cutouts) and then baking them.
This Hopi Buckle was made using the "Overlay" technique, where two sheets of Sterling Silver are fused together. This enabled the artist to create the appearance that the surface had been carved out with the wonderful design that you see in the pictures. You may want to take a look at the textured "Matt" or background area. For half a century or so, this has almost always been decorated in this subtle way by Hopi artists. I think that this provides an insight into the personality of the artist...
It is simple and elegant.
The "Hopi Belt Buckle Collection" in my eBay Store
This Hopi Buckle was purchased in 2012 from a collector in Scottsdale, Arizona. I love Belt Buckles, but have mostly traded and collected Navajo and Zuni Jewelry over the years. So, I'm a bit "out of my element" and have just done the best that I can on researching these buckles. I've also relied on the previous owner and am grateful for the information that he passed on to me about this
compact assemblage of Hopi buckles. I appreciate our understanding. Please check out the other Hopi buckles and hundreds of other Native jewelry items that I have in my eBay Store, Thanks!
As the Navajo say, "Walk in Beauty"
I ship anywhere
in the United States
for free. Insurance is included, of course...
I thank You and look forward to sharing a good experience!
Recommended Reference Books
"AMERICAN INDIAN JEWELRY I" - Gregory Schaaf Page
"AMERICAN INDIAN JEWELRY II: M-Z" Page
"HALLMARKS OF THE SOUTHWEST"- Barton Wright - Page
THE LITTLE BOOK OF SOUTHWESTERN SILVER" - Billie Hougart Page 174
"ZUNI JEWELRY" - Theda and Michael Bassman
"ZUNI THE ART AND THE PEOPLE VOLUMES 1-3" - Barbara & Ed Bell- Volume
"KNIFEWING AND RAINBOW MAN IN ZUNI JEWELRY"
"HOPI SILVER THE HISTORY AND HALLMARKS OF HOPI SILVERMAKING" Margaret Wright - Pages
40-42, 50-54 (general observations about the history of techniques and Hopi Guild formation)
reference only Buckle 206