Vintage 925 Sterling Silver Native Zuni Ranger Turquoise Inlay Belt Buckle 12.5g
We have similar Zuni, Turquoise, and Inlay items, which would pair nicely with this piece, for sale this week. Item Description by: Angela A.
Zuni NM" on the back of the buckle, "138 RR written on the back of the buckle, tested, and guaranteed. Country of Origin: United States - Zuni Nation. Brand: John and Rosalie Bowannie. Gram Weight: 12.5 grams. Length : 4.65 mm to 9.91 mm.
Width : 4.18 mm to 4.96 mm. Color : opaque bright blue hue. Accent Stone: Red coral, mother of pearl, and onyx inlay. Red coral : 3.93 mm to 11.51 mm long, 1.65 mm to 7.50 mm wide, opaque pink-red hue. Mother of Pearl : 2.92 mm to 8.85 mm long, 1.74 mm to 5.97 mm wide, semi-translucent and opaque lustrous white and cream hues. Onyx : 2.42 mm to 11.81 mm long, 0.59 mm to 6.32 mm wide, opaque black hue. Stone Treatment: The stone(s) appear to be untreated, but we are not certified gemologists. Stone(s) have been tested and guaranteed using a professional Presidium Duo refractive, heat, and hardness tester. Stone Cuts: Carved and polished cabochon inlay. Men's or Women's: Unisex. Handmade during the 1970s by John and Rosalie Bowannie, talented Zuni artisans in New Mexico. The belt buckle features beautiful turquoise, red coral, mother of pearl, and onyx stones in the Zuni inlay style. The stone-to-stone inlay was skillfully completed, and surrounding the outside of the buckle is a geometric sterling silver border, adding visual interest. Completed with a bar and post that allows this belt buckle to be worn with a variety of belts. There is some tarnish on the sterling silver, giving this item a lovely antique quality. This listing is for the item only. This beautiful piece was made by a very talented Native American silversmith.It features handcrafted silversmith work throughout. Antique Native American jewelry is very rare to find. This is due to these pieces being made for reservation and personal use before the tourist trade became popular. Very few pieces were made and even less survived to today.
The concept of Pawn, Old Pawn, and Dead Pawn Native American Jewelry came to be in the 1800s. When a loan wasnt repaid, the item became known as either Old Pawn or Dead Pawn. Zuni jewelry is very distinct from other Native American tribes; it most notably features gorgeous inlay designs, as well as petit point and needle point stone work. These highly detailed techniques, combined with exceptional metal work, makes the Zuni tribe one of the best-known jewelry making tribes in the world.The Zuni Nation is well known for their stone inlay work, mosaic-like images depicting religious and cultural motifs created from materials that were readily available. Their modern work is well known for its bold stone colors; often turquoise and coral are used. It is rare for their pieces to be signed, as the Zuni People believe artwork belongs to the entire community. Stone to stone inlay is a more modern Native American style of jewelry.
Stones are placed side by side, without metal channels, to create a beautiful and intricate design. The design has a metal base and sidewalls that surround the stone clusters, secured in place by epoxy.
This highly skilled process is only used by the most accomplished artists. Turquoise is found all over the world and has been a popular semi-precious stone used in jewelry and art for thousands of years by many different cultures; from prehistoric times to the present. Turquoise comes in many beautiful color variations; from the popular bright solid sky-blue hues to dark blue hues with dark spiderwebbing throughout, as well as aqua, teal, and many green varieties, and even some rare white with dark spiderwebbing.
Red Coral is a highly prized stone by Native American cultures and has long been used by artisans in the Southwest. Spanish traders introduced coral to the Navajo, Zuni, Hopi, and other tribes, and it quickly became a sign and symbol of wealth and status in many different Native American cultures. It varies in color from deep red to orange, with red being the preferred choice of Native American jewelry makers. The item "Vintage 925 Sterling Silver Native Zuni Ranger Turquoise Inlay Belt Buckle 12.5g" is in sale since Sunday, September 20, 2020.
This item is in the category "Jewelry & Watches\Ethnic, Regional & Tribal\Native American\Other Native American Jewelry". The seller is "abeautifultimeco" and is located in Fort Collins, Colorado. This item can be shipped worldwide.
- Country of Origin: United States - Zuni Nation
- Modified Item: No
- Accent Stones: Red coral, mother of pearl, onyx
- Metal Purity: .925
- Artisan: John and Rosalie Bowannie
- Main Stone: Turquoise
- Brand: John and Rosalie Bowannie
- Metal: Sterling Silver
- Jewelry Type: Belt Buckles
- Tribal Affiliation: Zuni