Concho Belt 111- Sterling Silver -Navajo made

Excellent example of a traditional Navajo concho belt. Each of the 12 concho's measure 2-1/8" x 1 3/4" Detailed stamping is a true signature of an artist and this belt does not disappoint. It can easily be worn through jeans belt loops or with a skirt. The concho's are backed with a copper strap making them easy to space and arrange for the perfect look. NAVAJO CONCHO BELT- STERLING SILVER ARTIST: LEONARD MALONEY Concho Belts The word concho, sometimes spelled concha, comes from the Spanish word meaning shell. Some of the first "conchos" were made of melted silver dollars and resembled a shell—it is commonly thought this is how the name came about. In Spanish, the correct word is concha, with an a at the end and is pronounced like an ah sound. However, most people now-a-days refer to the Native American style belt as a concho belt, with an o. Although it is commonly said the Navajo (Dine’) borrowed the idea from Spaniards, the concho belt has become a long-standing Native tradition. Concho Belts reportedly began appearing in Navajo country in the late 1860s or early 1870s. Other Native Americans including the Zuni and Hopi also made traditional Concho Belts before long.