Hopi Overlay Oval Belt Buckle [SOLD]

The Hopi Arts & Crafts Co-op Guild was formed in 1947, after World War II, when returning Hopi servicemen were trained at a silversmithing school founded under the G.I. bill.  The late Paul Saufkie, Sr. was the technical instructor and the late Fred Kabotie, noted Hopi artist and designer, taught design. Although many techniques of silver work were used, the overlay style gradually emerged as the dominate style. This simple, unique, elegant jewelry is now considered essentially the Hopi style of jewelry.

Manuel Hoyungowa lived in the village of Hotevilla on Third Mesa.  He was the son of Silas Hoyungwa and nephew of Preston Monongye.  He had attended the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe. His mentor and neighbor was Preston Monongye.  Manuel was a master Hopi jeweler.  His designs were mostly based on Katsina imagery.  His technical precision in Hopi overlay technique was masterful.  It was a loss to the craft when he passed away at the age of 58.

If one studies the design on the face of this buckle, it is conceivable that the upper half of the design is a stylized parrot with a curved beak at the left, feathers flowing off to the right.  The lower half of the design appears to represent feathers on the left and a flight pattern on the right.  The bottom element represents the ground plane and underground kiva.

The buckle is stamped with the artist’s double rain cloud symbol. This buckle was purchased from the artist at the Museum of Northern Arizona on July 4, 1986 during its annual Hopi Show.

Condition: very good condition with very minor scratches on the edge.

Provenance: from the estate of a long-time client of Adobe Gallery who amassed a collection of 40 belt buckles, all of which we hopefully will be posting on-line.

Reference: American Indian Jewelry I: 1,200 Artist Biographies by Gregory Schaaf