Belt Buckles & Concho Belts

Yes, absolutely. I also noted that I have to take more photos of my stuff, exactly the way @Ravenscry has done it. He has now set the mark how to do this.

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Mike,

Thank you kindly for your wonderfully detailed explanation! Due to owning and operating a machine shop, I am familiar with tool steels, their differing heat treatments and performing what is required to achieve a desired product, but I know nothing as it pertains to the realm of jewelry. Your response is precisely what I was after. Your knowledge and ability to convey it has provided me with a drastically widened appreciation for quality stampwork, I feel similar to @TAH. The historical component of your response I deeply appreciate as well.

Thanks again Mike, have a great weekend!

@gt75, thank you for your kind words. There is an abundant amount of fine photography within this community, I just happened to get lucky with mine!

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Thank you for the amazing, professional, detailed photos, and for sharing these pieces from your outstanding collection, Aaron. Machine shop! We’ll have to chat :slight_smile:

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I’m glad everyone’s enjoyed @mmrogers, you and Tom especially. There is a wonderful group of people making up this community, and it’s a real pleasure being amongst you all.

Absolutely Mike, reach out any time about anything at all!

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Wow. Very nice. You have your own museum collection. I hope you have a nice safe. The close ups really show the wonderful depth of the repouse work. I think #5 is my fav.

I also like the Navajo rug. Is that Storm Pattern?

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Thank you @nanc9354, for your kind words. Concho belts and buckles are definite passions of mine. Much like @TAH, it’s been a course of dedicated study and genuine appreciation for the form(s) for quite some time. I’m glad you enjoyed! Belt #5 is one of my favorites as well.

The weaving is indeed a Storm Pattern. I believe if I had more room to properly display them, I would have an addiction for these as well.

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Nice! I only have one too and it is also storm pattern. I liked the colors, the spiders and the fact that I didn’t get dizzy looking at it…:laughing:. It has no lazy lines so I’m not sure if it is Navajo…but it is pretty.

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What a lovely example @nanc9354! Navajo or not, it bears beautiful colors and the pattern is striking. Very nice! Thank you for sharing.

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That’s beautiful! Storm pattern is one of my favorite type of Navajo rugs. We have two.

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I’m not sure if I’m posting correctly on this thread, but I’m looking to get any information on the pictured belt. Picture posted of the only markings I could find on the belt. Appreciate any info!



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Big cluster Concho belt from Victor Moses Begay or Valentino and Matilda Banteah. The leather was not original when I got it so I swap it depending on outfit. Richardson has the same belt with missing stones for more than my car is worth so felt very fortunate to find this one at a price point I could swing.

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Beautiful! But I really love your rings!

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I reread your post and was admiring your rug again; it’s so beautiful. It reminds me of one I inherited from my mom. I couldn’t remember if I’ve ever heard of “lazy lines,” so I googled it (I have a book on Navajo rugs somewhere so I’ve prob just forgotten about them). I’m thinking they are more noticeable in older rugs. We have 8 rugs that I know are Navajo (because of where I purchased them - even have photos of the weavers), and I have never noticed any such lines. Your rug certainly looks Navajo to me, and I believe the spiders are actually water bugs.

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Very pretty link concho belt. I couldn’t find the hallmark. You might try making a separate post under Identifying and Discovering to get more responses.

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Oh, Thomas Nez, here we go again. Nice.

It’s impressive to see that many artists/silversmiths seem to have very broad knowledge and skills. Not focusing on only rings or belts or bolos but many different “domains”.

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Great observation @gt75. They’re also ranchers, electricians, horsemen, master mechanics, carpenters, shepherds, blacksmiths. Having worked with Navajo silversmiths for many years, one is never surprised to learn how versatile and talented these artists are in so many other areas.

Most grew up in rural environments where every skill was needed, materials were spare, precious, and expensive relative to income, and nothing ever went to waste.

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You’re are correct. They are water bugs. Thank you for the info on lazy lines. I picked up the rug online at SGW so you never know what you get…but I thought it was beautiful and it was a good price. If you feel so inclined to show all your rugs, especially the storm pattern…I wouldn’t object :wink:

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@nanc9354, I’ll post the 2 SP rugs; maybe eventually I’ll start another thread, but I don’t want to hijack this too much.

The one on the wall is the first of the 2 that we bought. It’s not high end, but hubby and I love the colors. The poster, which I bought on a trip to Santa Fe with a friend, is fun. I hadn’t spent a lot of time in NM prior to then, and I loved how the little pinyon trees were all over. I saw this poster, and it cracked me up. Now I call them Dalmation hills :laughing: (sorry, ND game reflection in the glass)

The second belonged to my mom. In Aug of '14 she asked us to buy a Navajo rug for her - our pick. So we got this one at the Jacob Lake Inn gallery on the road to the North Rim. Unfortunately she became ill soon after we got back, and never recovered. We hung the rug on her fireplace, but her illness led to a heart attack that Nov, and she passed the following Feb. But at least it brought her joy for awhile. Now it lives on the back of our couch since we have no more room on our walls.

This is the one that reminds me of your rug, even though it doesn’t have any water bugs.

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