Diné - Navajo Sterling Silver and Turquoise Concha Belt [SOLD]

In the early twentieth century, banks were non-existent on the Navajo Reservation. As a result, the Navajo tended to invest their wealth into jewelry and if they needed money, they could pawn the jewelry at the local trading post. One popular form of jewelry that is distinctly Navajo is the Concha Belt. Conchas (named after the Spanish word for shell) are round or oval disks of silver. The Navajo have taken a design which they may have borrowed from the Mexican concha bridle ornament or from the oval shaped hair ornaments worn by the Plains Indians and added designs copied from the leather stamps of the Spanish and Moors. The shortened name, concha (or conchas for more than one) is used to describe these belts.

This belt consists of eight oval repoussé sterling silver conchas, each with a small domed turquoise cab at its center. Between each concha is a sterling silver repoussé rectangular “butterfly.” A large and very beautiful blue oval and domed turquoise stone is set in a silver bezel as the buckle. All these parts are tied together with black double leather belts. The widest leather serves as the backing for the silver parts and the thinner leather is laced through each of the parts.

This is one of the most striking mid-century Navajo concha belts to appear on the market. It is in perfect condition. The beautiful turquoise buckle sets this belt apart from most concha belts of the period.

Updated Information: We have been informed by a knowledgeable dealer of Native American Jewelry that this concha belt was made by Navajo artist Billy Goodluck.

Recommended Reading: Fine Indian Jewelry of the Southwest: The Millicent Rogers Museum Collection by Shelby J. Tisdale.