Oval Shaped Concha Style Turquoise and Silver Buckle [R]

The original forms of all the silver wares manufactured by the Navajo were relatively simple: that is, those objects which spread from the Plains area to the Navajo country were made of thin, light metals, principally German silver, brass and copper. These were bracelets, rings earrings and belt conchas. German silver, which is an alloy that contains no silver, was a favored metal of the Plains tribes. The rings, bracelets and hair plates, which in turn became belt conchas, worn by the Kiowa, Comanche, Dakota, Cheyenne, Ute, Pawnee, Osage, etc., were of this thin metal. It was not until the Navajo began manufacturing their own ornaments that these various items began to appear in heavy coin silver, ingot silver and, later, sterling silver.

This sterling silver belt buckle is in the shape of a concha that would have been made for a concha belt. It is quite possible that this was made for a future concha belt but changed to a belt buckle. This buckle was purchased by the previous owner in 1964 and was probably new or relatively new at that time. The diamond shape turquoise cab is cracked, but otherwise the unit is in very good condition.