Well, the first one is no longer available on eBay and it was located in Japan. The second one is at Garland’s in Sedona and I was able to handle it in October. I thought about purchasing it, but stuck with the plan and brought home a rug instead. 
3 Likes
lol. i thought you were getting into jewelry making when you said you shaped the tails. I now realize the ends of the leather belt are called tails and you weren’t shaping the tail of the thunderbirds.
Here is a recent thunderbird I acquired. I just couldn’t resist.
11 Likes
We do call them tails, but I should have probably said, “shaped the tips” for clarity. My bad! Not surprising that you were confused. 
Love your pendant! I agree. Thunderbirds are hard to resist.
4 Likes
Very cool. I love leather and silver cuffs.
Those are beautiful buckles, but Navajo rugs are so amazing. I think I would have done the same.
3 Likes
Sharing these three buckles. The fish scale inlay is by Harlan Coonsis (Zuni). The oval “hummingbird” inlay is by Sherman (Zuni) and Isabelle (Isleta) Paquin. The knifewing inlay buckle is unsigned and I am unsure of the artist. Husband said he might get into leatherworking so perhaps these might jump out of their box and onto a belt at some point! Pretty sure the two all-turquoise ones are Sleeping Beauty.
4 Likes
Thank you for sharing your lovely buckles, @Indriaza, you’ve got some nice looking pieces. I recently came across a Knifewing buckle similar to yours. Does yours have a handmade swivel bar like the one below?
1 Like
Yep, exactly Ravenscry! I’ve seen a couple variations of this buckle design, where there is a central figure - often Knifewing, with four surrounding symbols - often rainclouds. Here is another one currently at Four Winds, which is stamped LN and an SS number. I’m always hesitant to assume attribution of very similar pieces, as I’ve learned many times they end up being different artists, especially pre-60’s pieces. But who knows!
https://www.fourwindsgallery.com/product/vintage-zuni-inlay-rainbow-man-belt-buckle/
4 Likes
All three buckles are very nice, @Indriaza. I’m always mesmerized by Zuni inlay. I’ll bet there are a lot of great vintage and new belts on eBay and Etsy that would love to help these beauties jump out of their box sooner.
3 Likes