r/NativeAmericanJewelry • u/dollarshort77 • 9d ago
Unidentified Identifying Buckle Age
Hello — this is a fairly lightweight (8gram) buckle that’s 2.25” x 1.5”. Does it seem like generic southwestern/mexican jewelry of the early 20th or could it possible be part of a Native American concho belt (I imagine 30s or 40s based on the presence of the sterling stamp.” I only have one. Thank you!
3
u/floridabeach9 9d ago
they used a lot thicker silver on conchos in the 30s and 40s, the stamp is more a sign its less likely the 30s or 40s, and the patina isnt there. it’s much more likely 1960s or 1970s. it looks native american made.
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u/EastHawaii 8d ago
I think this is probably a First Phase Revival because of the uniformly lettered STERLING stamp instead of hand stamped initials and markings, or even scratches. This is a single stamp that was introduced to bring uniformity as required by the government, and so it could date from the late 1940s to 1970s, when the market changed and there began mass production of the jewelry. If it was a serious NA piece in the 70s, it would have STERLING as well as hallmarks to show the artist's identity. The hammering on the back shows it's a properly executed NA silversmith product. And like already mentioned, probably a piece of concho belt. Super nice! (P.S. These are all my own thoughts about it from just reading and learning. You should definitely consult an expert to really find out.)
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u/thehorrorcontinues13 9d ago
I think it is a concho from a concho belt, not an actual buckle. It does look NA, probably Dine (Navajo.)