Belt Buckles & Concho Belts

[Ravenscry]

@TAH

until that perfect, original First Phase, round, coin silver, concho belt comes around with a missing hand-cast harness buckle.

What kind of fool would be interested in a belt with no buckle!?..

[TAH]

@Ravenscry

What kind of fool would be interested in a belt with no buckle!?

That’s not as foolish as a person who only purchases buckles with all of the conchos missing.

[Ravenscry]

@TAH

not as foolish as a person who only purchases buckles with all of the conchos missing.

“Missing” has such a bad connotation, it’s more likely that they were used for settling a trading post debt. They could have also been stolen during raids, or left on the battlefield after a lengthy war.

[TAH]

@Ravenscry

“Missing” has such a bad connotation, it’s more likely that they were used for settling a trading post debt. They could have also been stolen during raids, or left on the battlefield after a lengthy war.

Good point! I like where you’re going with this. From now on I’ll say I only rescue vintage Navajo buckles that have lost their conchos due to historic circumstances.

[Steve]

@TAH

From now on I’ll say I only rescue vintage Navajo buckles that have lost their conchos due to historic circumstances.

and clueless ebay flippers

[August]

Obviously the piece found its perfect new caretaker.
Amazing story and love the Heritage trade approach to your restoration.
I think a lot about care, custody and control, of the responsibility of ownership and how conservation is such an important pice of that. It seems to me you have hit a home run on all fronts here. Congratulations, Aaron and Bravo!

[Ravenscry]

Thank you, @August, for your all too kind comment.

@August

I think a lot about care, custody and control, of the responsibility of ownership and how conservation is such an important pice of that.

I am on board with every bit of this, and completely agree. For me, these pieces we all treasure aren’t simply things to wear or enjoy looking at, they’re extensions of the artist’s mind, from his heart and through his hands. And that deserves far more than simple storage.

[August]

But it’s so darn hard to for me to find the right time to wear a Northwest Coast mask…… hmmm

[BlytheEcho]

@Ravenscry Just WOW. Thank you for sharing all the steps with photos and explaining everything. Including to all the follow-up comments and questions. I am so impressed. And now I have to go look for the photo of you wearing the belt in the other thread.

[Ravenscry]

I’m thrilled you enjoyed it Blythe, thank you for your kind words. It was just as much fun documenting everything for sharing as it was performing the work.

@BlytheEcho

And now I have to go look for the photo of you wearing the belt in the other thread.

…I’ve yet to add that……but thanks to your push and a nudge from @TAH, I’ll get it posted this weekend.

[TAH]

@Ravenscry

I’ve yet to add that……but thanks to your push and a nudge from @TAH, I’ll get it posted this weekend.

Aaron,

Friendly advice - since you usually stack your belts and considering the weight of that Spirit belt, ya better add suspenders so you don’t have a catastrophic wardrobe malfunction.

[TAH]

This just needs to be in this thread…

https://www.fineartsofthesouthwest.com/charles-loloma-personal-hopi-silver-signature-belt-buckle.html