Cast and Stamped Navajo Belt Buckle with Turquoise Cabochon [SOLD]

Tufa casting was one of the first methods of silverwork that Diné artists used. The process entails melting silver and pouring it into a carved mold. After the silver cools, the item is then polished. The artist who crafted this buckle then took the time to carefully stamp out a border of intricate elements as well as to add a beautiful piece of turquoise. The final result is an elegant, yet simple buckle.  This heavy silver vintage Diné (Navajo) belt buckle features a turquoise stone placed in a stamped tufa cast setting. The uniqueness of it is that in addition to being cast, the unknown Diné silversmith decorated the outer edges of the buckle with a series of crescent shaped stamps. A multi-hued turquoise cab sits in the center of the buckle in a straight-edged bezel surrounded by a twisted wire frame.

The buckle could date as early as the 1940s or 50s and there is evidence of wear along the edges, where some of the  stamp work has been smoothed over. The wear gives it a soft patina that adds to the allure of the belt. Someone wore this buckle a lot, for a long time. It is now time for someone else to enjoy it.  As is common with mid-century pieces, the buckle is unsigned.

Condition: The buckle is in very good condition. The silver is solid and the stone is intact.

Provenance: The Cast and Stamped Navajo Belt Buckle with Turquoise Cabochon comes from an Oklahoma collector.

Recommended Reading: The Navajo and Pueblo Silversmiths by John Adair