Thank you, Tom and Mike! It sure took me long enough but I’m happy with how it came out.
I probably provided further detail here than when we originally discussed it, but that was last year!
I imagined a codgy ole trader seeing that and turning the silversmith around in the bullpen of his post and telling him to bring it back when he’s done with it.
I know we joke in good fun, but those missing stamps are one of my favorite things about this one.
Mike, as Tom mentioned, he and I were pretty impressed with the height of the repoussé on the conchos. They have an incredible amount of dome height, as well. In the one photo of the reverse of one of the conchos, you can make out fractures close to twelve o’clock. Many of the conchos present with similar cracks in different spots. Do you think that the amount of work that went into shaping these, and perhaps some missteps in annealing, caused these? I love the fact that they exist, we were just curious as to your thoughts.
Good question Aaron. I see this as intentional rather than accidental or otherwise. To achieve this high dome it looks like the silversmith used a double doming technique, first creating a pronounced dome in the center of the concha, and then applying the repousse technique to the already domed area. Depending on the thickness of the material and the nature of the tools used it isn’t surprising that there are fractures from stretching the metal. Pulling this off wasn’t easy, and that silver was worked over pretty well by the time each concha was finished.
Thank you Aaron for all the detail and bringing the piece to life. I knew Larry and we did some business together- he was a dedicated scholar , author and collector / dealer whose influence on the Mative American Art world can’t be underestimated. I would put him up there with the likes of a George Terasaki as a legendary figure.
I still have a few pieces that were once Larry’s and although it was always a complicated acquisition, I covet them. And no, they are not silver!!
I promise to move off Larry but if you ever want to see the kind of eye he had and across so many disciplines- jewelry, pottery, santos, New Mexican furniture, Dine ceremonial objects- check out the Elk Courting flute Tyshawn the great Gaylord Torrence ( now curator emeritus ) somehow impossibly got Larry to gift to the Nelson- Atkins Museum in Kansas City. It’s one of the greatest pieces of Plains Sculpture ever created in my opinion.
Back to the topic at hand and your great ne acquisition.
Great belt , love the freedom of design in the buckle and I adore the high mounded conchos whose exaggerated shape bring to life the tool work and carvings. It symphony of forms and designs that come together in one single great orchestral moment.
Well done on the new belt and rivets which you have made so thoughtfully now become accompaniment to the original.
I think it’s neat that you knew Larry and had business with him. His work was important and serves not only the collectors of Native American art, but the Nations themselves. As many here know all too well, he literally wrote the book on the older material and his publications remain as some of the most referenced ever produced.
I believe this is the flute of which you speak? It is, no doubt, an exemplary masterpiece.
Plains cultures and the unique material crafted by them are both very near and dear to my heart. Believe it or not, I have the above photo saved on my phone, as well as numerous others from the Nelson-Atkins. Including this unbelievably rare, ornately decorated late 18th century Ojibwe buffalo-skin coat from Ontario; that I believe was gifted honoring the museum’s 75th anniversary and is of the same permanent exhibit as the aforementioned flute? Of all the painted hides, Woodlands, and Plains clothing I’ve studied, this coat stands alone as one of the absolute finest.
Thank you for your kinds words concerning Larry Frank’s concho belt. I must admit that I didn’t make the copper rivets, but simply found some old ones that I felt fit the period of the rest of the belt.
It’s received a fair amount of wear time and is proving most comfortable.
@Ravenscry I LOVE this belt. Obsessed with it. I think we talked before about how I aspire to own a second phase belt, and how I would like to find one with a great cast buckle. This is pretty much exactly what I had in mind. Do you believe the buckle to be original to the rest of the belt? I could see it potentially being a later addition, although it compliments the rest of the belt perfectly. As others have mentioned, the height achieved on the repousse of the conchos is insane. And like you I find the missing stamps to be incredibly charming.
Probably best that you got this one and not me though, because your restoration is perfection that I never would have been able to achieve.
Thank you for your kind words and enthusiasm, Orbit!
I recall our discussion and am well aware of your tastes; your generous words and thoughts aren’t lost on me.
When I talk to myself, I say it is indeed original.
I could easily see it; as you mentioned, it compliments the conchos exceptionally and there is a fair amount of wear along top and bottom of the face of the buckle, as well as under the prong; the stamp work has been worn almost completely off in some spots. But I have to bring myself back to reality and tell myself that I can’t be certain. Mark shared with me that Skip told him the belt remained unchanged from when Larry acquired it, but that’s simply “he said, he said”. The leather it was on was not original, I do know that; so between knowing the leather had been replaced and taking the multiple individuals involved, I’d say it’s anybody’s guess, really. I guess that’s a long winded way of saying that yes, I believe the buckle to be original to the conchos, but the truth is that’s simply what I want to believe.
I doubt this, OO. If you’d have acquired it, you probably wouldn’t have bothered with the ridiculous trail I traveled in my desire to swap the leather. Just ask Tom; it only took me many months and multiple purchases of vintage leather belts, antique rifle scabbards, straps, old tack, rifle slings and miscellaneous lengths of old leather looking for what I felt was just the right piece, and after that was finalized, I had to decide on a method of securing the buckle. @TAH only had to politely inquire about a half a dozen times as to when I felt it would be completed.
But, finally, now it’s something that I think looks correct and most importantly, is a treat to wear.
This belt is a bit different from so many fabulous vintage and historic belts and buckles posted here…but just to show the “other side of the coin” I’ll add in this delicious contemporary belt. While looking through the artists at Santa Fe Market this year, I came across this belt by Debbie Silversmith, granddaughter of Kenneth Begay. She certainly carries his vision forward in this belt:
I bought these at the Wheelwright Museum fundraiser prior to Market a couple years ago. They’re bigger than I usually wear, but I love them. Looks like we’re both attracted to this White Hogan “swirly business!”
Yes! Lovely! I saw them or a similar version several years ago in the Heard Museum gift shop. Unfortunately they were also on the heavy side, too heavy for me. I’ve posted an unusual bead and pendant necklace from the WH with a swirl as the “naja,” and bought a swirl motif necklace I think by one of the Kees, quickly confiscated by a family member.
I find the older I get the bigger some of my earrings get. We’re going to channel Iris Apfel as we age gracefully (although she wasn’t a big earring person, but big everything else).
Yep, that’s a BIG choker! Her beaded and tab coral and turquoise combination looks terrific. I couldn’t pull that off, but good for her! She evidently has a memory problem and forgot earrings.
Dang, I’d love to be able to do that. I have bad c vertebrae disc’s, and turquois is so heavy! I have one a bit smaller than that big chunky one she’s wearing and I can’t load on too much more. You folks are lucky.
I’m sorry, that sounds so frustrating. And actually I don’t really wear too many heavy necklaces. I honestly think my job keeps my back strong. But I can’t wear big heavy earrings and I so want to
but I’m happy with how it came out. 
