vintage sterling silver overlay kokopelli belt buckle

Sterling Silver Overlay
Vintage Kokopelli Belt Buckle
HK Item #BU143

Shopping < All Jewelry < Vintage Shop < Vintage Buckles

Condition	Vintage, pre-owned, very good; see photos for patina
Materials	sterling silver, Read about silver
Size	3 1/2" x 2" - fits up to a 1 1/2" belt
Weight	48 grams
Hallmarks	stamped with maker's mark and : STERLING
Artist	unknown

vintage sterling silver overlay kokopelli belt buckle

sterling silver overlay kokopelli belt buckle

Will fit up to a 1 1/2" wide belt.

Questions or more details.

Store Policies

Sterling Silver Overlay
Vintage Kokopelli Belt Buckle

BU143 - $295 plus s/h
(ONLY ONE AVAILABLE)

Paula says: "Are you wondering why this item is not described as Native American? You can find the answer by clicking here."

sterling silver overlay kokopelli belt buckle

What is 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.

We leave the natural patina on our pawn jewelry because many of our customers like the old "vintage" appearance. If you'd like to clean up your silver jewelry, new or old, check out our handy silver cleaning and polishing cloth.

Vintage Buckles

New Buckles

Bargain Barn Buckles

Kokopelli

The kokopelli, flute player, often associated with the Hopi Flute Clan is the symbol of happiness, joy and fertility.

Usually depicted as a non-gender figure, it was traditionally a male figure, often well endowed until the missionaries discouraged such depiction !

Kokopelli talks to the wind and the sky. His flute can be heard in the spring breeze, bringing warmth after the winter cold. He is the symbolic seed bringer and water sprinkler. His religious or supernatural power for fertility is meant to invoke rain as well as impregnate women both physically and mentally.

The kokopelli image is found from Casa Grande, Mexico to the Hopi and Rio Grande Pueblos and then westward to the Californian deserts in prehistoric rock, effigy figures, pottery, and on kiva walls.

The Ocean Collection

An avid Native American jewelry and artifact collector lived by the ocean in southern California. When he passed away, he left the fruits of his passion to his son. After a few years, his son lovingly chose a few sentimental pieces to remind him of his dad and sent the rest to us to find new homes for his dad's treasures. You will find some of his items in the Vintage Shop and some that we couldn't verify as Native American made, in the Bargain Barn. They are unique pieces wherever they landed.

Why isn't this item called Native American?

The US Department of the Interior Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 and its recent Amendments require that items described as Native American or Indian be made by an enrolled member of a federally recognized tribe. Furthermore, government regulations suggest that all attributions include the Native American Indian's name, tribe and federal tribal enrollment number. Because it is impossible to identify the artist for many vintage items, even if they are authentic Indian made items, we cannot and will not use the words Native American or Indian in association with such pieces.

Read about authenticity of Native American Indian jewelry.

NOTE: Items in our Vintage Shop are either USED or NEW. They might come from inheritances, estate sales, private collections, and store liquidations. Many items are brand new (NOS, New Old Stock) and in perfect condition while others may show tarnish, scratches and other signs of use. Major issues will be described in detail and shown in photos. Vintage Shop items are sold as described and are not returnable.

Horsekeeping LLC - Definitions of Jewelry Age and Condition © 2013 Horsekeeping LLC © Copyright Information
Patina	A dark or colored film of oxidation that forms naturally on metal by exposure to air and other elements. It is often valued for its aesthetically pleasing appearance. All items in our Vintage Shop have some patina, even NOS.
Vintage	30 years or older.
NOS	New Old Stock. Made at least 20 years ago but never used.
Pre-owned	An item that has been used.

Sterling Silver Overlay Vintage Kokopelli Belt Buckle HK Item #BU143

Sterling Silver Overlay
Vintage Kokopelli Belt Buckle
HK Item #BU143