Southwest Indian Jewelry Diné of the Navajo Nation, Naabeehó Bináhásdzo Belts and Buckles

Lynol Yellowhorse Sterling Silver and Multi-stone Mosaic Inlay Belt Buckle

Lynol Yellowhorse, Navajo Jeweler, Silversmith

Category: Belts and Buckles
Origin: Diné of the Navajo Nation, Naabeehó Bináhásdzo
Medium: multi gemstones
Size:
3” length, 2” to 1-½” width
Item # C4736C
Price: $1250

This exceptional belt buckle is a contemporary sterling silver and multi-stone mosaic inlay work handcrafted by Diné jeweler Lynol Yellowhorse. The photographic images offer a clear look at its flawless craftsmanship, from the intricate stone setting to its authentication details. The buckle features a striking, asymmetrical trapezoidal shape. The surface is entirely covered in an intricate "cobblestone" or micro-mosaic inlay style, a technique requiring immense precision where each stone is individually hand-cut, polished, and fitted flush against the next.

The piece utilizes a vibrant, expertly balanced palette of high-quality natural materials, providing rich shades of cerulean blue, sky blue, and deep, striated greens. Lapis Lazuli offers deep, royal blues that anchor the composition. Spiny Oyster Shell gives the piece its warm, brilliant burst of orange, red, and golden yellow. Sugilite/Purple Turquoise adds a rare, rich pop of purple near the lower-left center. Jet/Black Onyx provides sharp, dark contrasts that heighten the surrounding colors.

The structural execution of the buckle highlights Yellowhorse's status as a high-end silversmith: the backing shows the clean, heavy-gauge sterling silver backplate, complete with a sturdy, pivoting belt loop and a secure hook. The back of the buckle provides a crisp close-up of the artist's authentication. It features his elegant, fluid script signature deeply stamped alongside a crisp STERLING quality mark.

This buckle is a flawless example of modern Navajo wearable art, beautifully marrying traditional stone-cutting heritage with a sleek, geometric aesthetic.

Lynol Yellowhorse (1962-2003), a revered Diné of the Navajo Nation artist from the Navajo Nation, was renowned for his exceptional lapidary skills, particularly in the creation of Southwest Indian jewelry in the distinctive "cobblestone style." This intricate style demands the artist to meticulously cut each stone and shape the sides in a beveled manner, bestowing the work with a captivating three-dimensional appearance.