Hopi Sterling Silver Butterfly Belt Buckle [SOLD]

The Hopi Arts & Crafts Co-op Guild was formed in 1947, after World War II, when returning Hopi Pueblo 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.

Overlay technique consists of an upper layer in which the design has been intricately cut out with a saw.  This layer is then placed over a solid backing sheet that has been scored and blackened, thus the overlay name.  This is the techniuqe used for this Hopi Sterling Silver Butterfly Belt Buckle.

Steven Sockyma is a Hopi member of the Corn Clan.  He has been actively making jewelry since 1969.  He was born in the Third Mesa village Hotevilla and now lives in Glorieta, New Mexico.

Condition: minor scratches from use

Provenance: from the collection of a former client who had purchased it in 1988 from Cristof’s of Santa Fe.

Recommended Reading:  The Beauty of Hopi Jewelry by Michael and Theda Bassman