Welcome to the forum, @Gypsy1.
Would you care to share a bit about yourself, your interest in Native American jewelry, and anything you can provide concerning your concho belt?
Here is a link on a previous discussion of hydraulic pressed Concho belts.
Hope this helps.
Thank you for replying with this @Currada, but the particular subject you cited references a sterling belt with at least some possible involvement of Native American labor. Aside from the general aspect of the involvement of an industrial press, this is something entirely different. It would be a mistake to convey the misunderstanding that the belt may be sterling, possibly involves any native american labor, or may even be made in the US. Let’s see what the OP has to say regarding their interest in the belt, and and the nature of the information they’re seeking.
Sorry my intent was not to confuse the subject.
I wasn’t comparing or claiming the belt was Native American-made, inferring to the value, approximate age or era of manufacture. Just relaying information that was provided to me when I posted a hydraulic-pressed Concho belt and was trying to learn the distinction between pressed/possibly mass produced and a hand made one.
No need for apologies. Handmade, machine made, it’s an interesting distinction. If you look up the FTC guidelines for using the term handmade the JB Tanner belt may well fit the legal definition of handmade. One can see that the dies made for the JB Tanner belt were created largely by hand labor by someone who knew how to make Native American stamps, and probably a Native American craftsman. That detail along with the use of a hand operated hydraulic press could very easily fit within the FTC definition of handmade. A real Concho purist wouldn’t see it that way, but for all intents and purposes, the legal definition could arguably still apply. The bezels in the JB Tanner belt are made by hand and joined to the Conchos by hand. The stones are genuine and set by hand. The material is certifiably sterling silver, and all finishing work was done by hand.
What I wanted to caution against, was leaving the OP with the impression that anything like the same circumstances could possibly apply to the belt they’re inquiring about.
Although I don’t know, and the OP hasn’t responded to Aaron’s welcome post, it’s reasonable to assume that the OP may be interested in selling the belt. Given the strict regulations set forth in the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990, with penalties of up to $2 million dollars, and the possibility of real prison terms, the last thing I would want to do is unintentionally contribute to a seller or reseller getting themselves in hot water over an unintentional misrepresentation of the nature and origin of whatever it is they’re selling.
I am glad you posted the picture of the press . Even though we don’t know anything about the origins of the belt from the poster. My first glance was that it looked machine done and it’s nice to know that I’m actually learning something from being on here.
Sorry for late reply to everyone.
Im elderly and have trouble accessing posts lol.
Thank you for your info. I acquired the belt and I treasure it. Thank you for this valued site.
Gypsy1
Here’s the lowdown. It’s an attractive belt but isn’t Native American. The material is likely base metal with no silver content. The conchos are machine stamped or cast, and probably manufactured overseas. The blue ‘stones’ are likely a man made material, and probably don’t have any turquoise content. Similar items are sold on sites like Temu and usually sell for less than $50.
Would you mind sharing where you got it, and what if anything you were told about it?
A friend gave it to me before she passed away. I don’t know where she got it.
So sorry to learn of her loss. Condolences. Oftentimes it’s the sentiment and memories that really matter, and what makes those things so special to us.