belt
- Museum number
- Am1999,04.6
- Description
-
Concha belt composed of fourteen component parts mounted on leather. There are six oval, domed shapes made of coin silver, with scalloped edges and with a radiating repoussé design, stamped with a central oval turquoise. The butterfly shapes are symmetrical and three prongs made by repoussé and with a central oval turquoise. There are seven of these interspersing the oval shapes. The buckle is rectangular in shape with six square turquoise and appears to be by a different maker. The turquoise seem to have been added on later as the stamping on the buckle goes underneath the bezels.
- Production date
- 1930-1940
- Curator's comments
- This type of belt is known as a 'concha belt' due to its evocation of shells through the oval shapes. The turquoise is of good quality and uniform, the repousse and doming is high. The belt is on the original leather which is unusual and is small which may mean it was made for a woman. The belt is quite typical of those made in the 1930-40s. In 2001 a very similar belt was seen in Santa Fe, New Mexico, made by the Navajo jeweller Hosteen Goodluck.
- Location
- Not on display
- Condition
- good.
- Acquisition date
- 1999
- Acquisition notes
- Donated by Paul S. and Mary M. Bosley of Massachusetts, USA, through the American Friends of the British Museum. The collection, most of which is housed at the BM as Am 1998, 07 and Am 1999, 04 was assembled in the late 1970s. This collection is to be viewed in conjunction with the collection Am 1998,07 which was bought through purchase.
- Department
- Africa, Oceania and the Americas
- Registration number
- Am1999,04.6
