17ozt CALVIN MARTINEZ Navajo INGOT CONCHO BELT 165GEM TURQUOISE Sterling Silver
Hand Wrought Ingot Sterling Silver. 14 Conchos + 1 Belt Buckle. 2.1" X 1.7". 2.5" X 2.15".
Black Leather Belt is 38" and is set up now for a 33" - 38 waist. It is 1.0 wide.
It may be modified to accommodate a smaller waist (less than 33) by adding an additional hole and by removing a concha. 540.9 grams = 17.39 Troy ounces Total Weight. Navajo Calvin Martinez Ingot Sterling Silver Belt Buckle. This sublime Sterling Silver Ingot Silver Concho Belt was created by noted Navajo silversmith Calvin Martinez in the traditional style. It is signed with the C.MTZ hallmark within an arrowhead (see pictures) on the back of the buckle. It is also marked "Sterling", and it is guaranteed to be Sterling Silver.
Calvin processes his own silver from "Ingots". According to Barton Wright in "Hallmarks of the Southwest" (page 232), Calvin was born in 1960 and has been active since the the 1980's. He has been awarded many top awards.
Your research may reveal that Calvin Martinez Ingot Silver jewelry is somewhat limited in supply in the marketplace. The process of making Ingot Hand Wrought Silver Jewelry is time consuming, requires a lot of physical strength, and a high level of skill. I do some trading in Navajo rugs and compare this to the difference between a traditional weaving made of natural wool that which is dyed and processed by hand using natural dyes.
More contemporary Navajo rugs are woven from store bought wool. It is not the same in process, quality, or value! A bit of a surprise given its modest size, this Concho Belt is Heavy!
It is in Very Good to Excellent condition. Because of the beauty of hand rolled and wrought Ingot Silver, it has the feel and look of an antique phase one or phase two coin silver concho belt.
It has a natural and subtle look that is very soft and charming. Please use the magnification function to view the magnificent Turquoise.
The 165 Rounded-Top Oval Turquoise Gem Stones appear to be natural and have lots of character. They have a distinct hardness and "depth", as well as the rusty brownish matrix that it is characteristic of Bisbee stones. In any event, Martinez chose some stones that are worthy of his fine Conchos to make this set.
The Black Leather Belt is. If it fits you right away, great... If not, all you need to do to make fit, feel, and look perfect on you is to take it to your local leather or shoe repair shop and have them punch the adjustment holes in it if you are not now a waist sized 40"-43"...
I will comment that there are a lot of Conchos on this belt, and not much space between the Conchos. Please, take a good look at the pictures and magnified photographs to see if it is the one for you. If so, I'd love to trade with you today! If you have an interest, there are YouTube videos that demonstrate the various steps in working with and creating Ingot Silver Jewelry. There are several videos available for you to see if you search the YouTube sidebar.
They are not of Calvin Martinez, but will give you an overview of what is involved in making Ingot Jewelry. But you can find it through Google... As the Navajo say, Walk in beauty! I will pack this carefully for you so that the conchos do not rub up against each other in transit and it will get to you in the same condition that you see in the pictures.
I thank You and look forward to sharing a good experience! Reference Books - This artist is referenced if there is a page # shown below. "AMERICAN INDIAN JEWELRY I" - Gregory Schaaf - page 232. "AMERICAN INDIAN JEWELRY II: M-Z" - Gregory Schaaf- page 25. "HALLMARKS OF THE SOUTHWEST"- Barton Wright - page.
"THE LITTLE BOOK OF SOUTHWESTERN SILVER" - Billie Hougart - page 225. "ZUNI JEWELRY" - Theda and Michael Bassman ZUNI THE ART AND THE.PEOPLE VOLUMES 1-3 - Barbara & Ed Bell- Volume. "INDIAN SILVERWORK OF THE SOUTHWEST, ILLUSTRATED - VOLUME 1" - pages 72-94. The item "17ozt CALVIN MARTINEZ Navajo INGOT CONCHO BELT 165GEM TURQUOISE Sterling Silver" is in sale since Friday, June 18, 2021. This item is in the category "Jewelry & Watches\Ethnic, Regional & Tribal\Native American\Other Native American Jewelry"." and is located in Tucson, Arizona.
This item can be shipped to United States, Canada.
- Modified Item: No
- Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
- Material: Leather
- Signed?: Signed
- Country of Manufacture: United States
- Clasp Type: Buckle
- Featured Refinements: Sterling Silver Concho Belt
- Metal Purity: .925, Sterling
- Artisan: Calvin Martinez
- Main Stone: Turquoise
- Metal: Sterling Silver
- Jewelry Type: Concho Belt
- Tribal Affiliation: Navajo