Hopi Sterling Silver Coyote Wolf Belt Buckle

What is Sterling Silver Overlay?

Native American overlay pieces are made of two layers of sterling silver. The bottom layer is a solid piece while the top layer has a cutout design. The cutout layer is placed over the bottom layer and the two pieces are "sweated" together, heated so that they become one solid piece of sterling silver. The bottom layer, or background, that shows through the cut out portion of the top layer is often darkened for contrast.

Hopi silversmiths typically texture the background layer with hash marks while Navajo artists often leave the background smooth. Hopi artists tend to use geometric designs and symbols similar to those used in their pottery and baskets. Navajo silversmiths tend to create scenes depicting everyday life using people, animals, buildings and landscapes to tell a story - this style is called "overlay storyteller jewelry". Read more about overlay here.

Coyote Spirit

Coyote is the master trickster and the spiritual brother of Raven. Although sometimes arrogant and self-important, coyote can be a great teacher by showing us how our impulsive nature or our self-centeredness fail to serve us well. Coyote brings wisdom through humor.

Wolf Spirit

The wolf teaches great dignity, courage, powerful Spirit communications, instinct and intelligence. Deep family connection and importance, stealth, wisdom, and extreme endurance. The wolf is a powerful ally on our Spiritual Journeys.

What is the "Man in a Maze"?

The figure known as the "Man in a Maze," depicts a man entering or exiting a labyrinth. It is a theme seen on baskets from as far back as the nineteenth century and occasionally in Hopi silver art. Such depictions of labyrinths are also found in ancient petroglyphs (Native American rock art).

The symbol can represent a person's journey through life. The maze contains many twists and turns, meant to represent choices made in life. The center is round and dark, so the journey can be from darkness to light or vice versa depending on which way you are headed!

Some interpret the center as a representation of a person's dreams and goals. When you reach the center, you have reached your goals and the sun god there blesses you and helps you pass into the next world.

Another interpretation of this symbol is that the man represents the human seed and the maze is the womb. As the man enters the maze, he creates new life which represents reincarnation or eternal life.