Yes, I do see that now, thanks! And thanks for putting them all together. TaraFawn75’s just looks more like mine than others I’ve seen, especially the square space around the stone and bezel. But mine has one more separation in the wings, and the back where the stone is very different.
I just googled Ketoh buckles and see how many there are. I had noticed how yours (and others in this thread are similar but really didn’t know how common it is. And I hadn’t put together (duh) the ketoh design as being like what is on the ketoh bow guards (don’t know if I am saying that correctly); prob because it hasn’t been something I have looked into when shopping. Because I had mom’s I didn’t consider looking at something similar.
Thank you for the info, now I’ve learned more about my buckle after all!!
Curious, why do you feel the keepers are upside down? Not sure there is a right or wrong way, but I see them as being correct because they’re oriented in the same direction (turquoise inlay pointing towards each other) as found on the end of the buckle and the tip piece.
If you turn them both over they look the same as they do now. I have to remember the forum makes it difficult for others to see when my tongue is in my cheek.
It was actually a comment on my OCD being worse than yours - when something can be done 2 ways with the same result, which is better???
[this is posting to the thread not specifically to Zia, sorry about that]
Thought you folks would enjoy seeing this, from our recent visit to the Museum of Northern Arizona (wonderful). The cases were brightly lit and hence pics include glare, but an idea at least:
Gorgeous!! All the times I’ve been out there and I’ve never visited that museum . Just never worked out I guess. I will have to make it work out sometime!
Not native or southwestern in the sense of Native American design influence, but here’s a recent design study for a sterling trophy buckle in Arabesque western style deep relief engraving.
Haha! I know Clint. Last time I saw him we had lunch at JCK in Vegas. Wouldn’t dream of trying to put him out of business. Genuinely nice guy, with great aesthetics and design ability.
There’s enough room for all of us I think. Without healthy, able competitors life gets boring very quickly for a designer.
Hi, yes, it is corn. I wasn’t fully paying attention during the explanation and retained the water part. They’re really corn farmers, this particular family and of course Hopi generally.
One thing I find interesting is the texturing in the foreground.
Thanks. They look like mountains to me. I have to check the card included with the purchase that describes the imagery in more detail; it’s somewhere inaccessible at the moment. The strap is by Howard Knight, Rocking K Custom Leather, Montana.
Really great buckle and belt, and I love the seasonally appropriate display! I’m not familiar with Ricky, is he related to Victor? And is it recent or from a few decades ago?
Hi and thanks! It’s Victor’s son, learned from him and they occasionally (but rarely) collaborated. Ricky (born 1951) has worked on his own since the 70s, I think. Don’t have info on the date. Like Victor, he’s one of the Kopavi artists and has a chapter in Hopi Gold, Hopi Silver. He incorporates some of Victor’s famed designs in some of his work.
And I love photographing things on pumpkins. Everything looks better leaning on a pumpkin.
In September, I went to a fall festival here in Indiana and one of the vendors was selling NA jewelry. He only had two or three belt buckles for sale, but the buckle below instantly caught my eye because of its beauty and uniqueness! I took a photo and asked @mmrogers and @OrbitOrange for their thoughts and if they saw any red flags. After receiving positive feedback from both. I called the vendor and made arrangements to pick it up. Many thanks to Double O and Michael for their expertise and willingness to help! And thanks to @Jason and Perry Null Trading for this valuable forum that gives us a platform to come together and share knowledge. I was fairly certain everything looked good with the buckle, but another set of knowledgeable eyes never hurts.
We came to the conclusion this buckle is likely a conglomeration piece combining Navajo sandcasting and Zuni channel inlay. The inlay contains 8 hand-cut turquoise stones - possibly Blue Gem. Due to the commercial swivel bar on the back, the buckle isn’t earlier than 1960s and could be from the 1970s.
Buckle measures 4" x 2.5", weighs 124 grams, has a nice natural patina, and shows honest wear with a few dings and scratches - all of this for $250! The vendor said he had this buckle for 8-10 years and it was displayed at every show. No other information was available.
I’m pretty excited about this piece. The buckle is pure awesomeness that now has the opportunity to be worn, seen, and relive its glory days.
. Just never worked out I guess. I will have to make it work out sometime!
and retained the water part. They’re really corn farmers, this particular family and of course Hopi generally.
Everything looks better leaning on a pumpkin.
