Hello,
I found this belt in a thrift store years ago with the intent of replacing the leather belt and wearing it myself. I am starting a leather working class today and pulled the belt out and am realizing it may be something much more than just a belt to be altered. This is my first time posting so please let me know if I did not do it correctly etc. Otherwise I appreciate the help!
Nice find, and welcome to the group. Somewhere I think I’ve seen this hallmark before, but a quick look in my 2 “go to” references found nothing. It appears to be hand stamped sterling, and a nice smaller size. The leather appears in good condition, why are you replacing it? There may be someone in this group who knows this hallmark, but there are a lot of unknown silversmiths with unknown hallmarks. We mainly focus on Native America silversmiths in this forum.
Thank you for the warm welcome and help! I was wanting to replace the leather only because it is too small for me to currently wear. I was wondering if this could be nativeamerican in origin and it is waht led me to this wonderful orgin.
I know where I’ve seen that hallmark. It’s on my new cuff that I just bought back in December from Medicine Man Gallery!! They have it listed as unknown. Interestingly MMG said my cuff is Kewa made, and this belt looks Navajo made, so who knows. Here’s a screenshot of my post regarding my cuff. I will add that I called the gallery before purchasing it, and they said it is most definitely Native made, so I would assume the belt is also.
Welcome to Turquoise People @TawnyElam!
OMG @Ziacat !#! Thanks for letting me know where I’d seen it! I love it when things work out this way!
Congrats @TawnyElam, now you know you have a native (very likely Navajo) belt! FYI…Medicine Man Gallery is a very highly regarded gallery in Tucson AZ.
The curious thing is that Medicine Man Gallery had my cuff listed as being Kewa made. I wonder if they assumed that since it has a steps on it like in a Pueblo. I didn’t actually ask them about that; I was just verifying that it was Native made. But this belt certainly looks Navajo.
Welcome to the forum, @TawnyElam. What a great thrifting find!
To me, your concho belt does resemble deeply stamped and/or chiseled overlay Navajo work. Similar design characteristics and aesthetics have been used by famed Navajo silversmiths Emerson Bill and his nephew Darin Bill (1965-2003), for example. Your belt looks to be hand stamped, with diamond appliqués soldered on, to me.
Belt buckle by Darin Bill
I can’t help with identifying the artist or providing clarification as to the hallmark, but I do have some thoughts.
I agree with Zia that it’s anybody’s guess. Also, considering it’s a relatively common practice to conjoin letters in this manner for a hallmark, (bear with me here, guys) it may not even be the same artist that crafted Zia’s beautiful, drop dead gorgeous cuff. At the very least, it’s a possibility that shouldn’t be discounted, I feel.
I have worked with Medicine Man a number of times, and can’t say enough great things about the establishment. However, to throw a big wrench in the mix, while Medicine Man is a renowned gallery and it’s proprietor, Mark Sublette, is highly regarded, everyone makes honest mistakes. A concho belt sold in one of their auctions last year that was no doubt a Skeet creation, evidenced by the buckle: the design and overall execution of which is unmistakable. It was listed as being crafted by Roger Skeet Sr., but the buckle is clearly marked with Roger Skeet Jr.’s hallmark. Roger Skeet Sr. made countless pieces for C.G. Wallace and did not hallmark his work.
I only wanted to bring that up so tunnel vision doesn’t settle in. I think it’s important to keep an open mind, especially with things like this. But hey, that’s just me. 
Congrats again, @TawnyElam on a lovely belt. If you get around to wearing it, perhaps you wouldn’t mind sharing it in @Ziacat’s thread, How do we combine and wear our Native American bling . 
