Silver Sandcast Turquoise Belt Buckle
Sterling Silver Sandcast Turquoise Belt Buckle By Artist R.Chee with the Bilagaanas Collective This belt buckle features an oxidized sterling silver bezel set Sonoran Gold Turquoise cabochon with silver rope around the bezel in the center of the ketoh style belt buckle. This buckle measures 2 3/4 inches x 1 3/4 inches and can fit a 1 1/2 belt.
History of Native American Jewelry
Native American Jewelry has a unique past. Knowing that story is the key to understanding the Indian jewelry styles of today. Native Americans started making silver jewelry in the late 1800’s when the Spaniards came, making jewelry, ornaments for their horses and trinkets for barter. But the Indian jewelry made before this time provided the foundation for their own style.
Metal was rare but not out of the picture entirely. Some archeologists suggest gold and silver was worked by certain tribes in North America during this ancient time but its use would have been limited. Gold and Silver was worked by the Native peoples of Mexico and Central America since the time of the Aztec, so its possible Native American tribes living in the southwest region could be aware of metal working in some way much earlier than the Spanish arrival. It is even difficult to put a date on just when the Native Americans started making silver jewelry after the Spanish arrival. Some authorities will say the 1870’s some the 1890’s.
