Vintage 1960's Navajo concho belt

 VINTAGE 1960'S NAVAJO CONCHO BELT

 This uniquely styled belt is reflective of concho belts of this period. The 7 oval concho's have a scalloped outer edge with round punch holes within the scallops. The raised area of the oval has been hammered to create a concave shape. Each of the concha's have a copper strap for the leather to go through and measure 2"1/2 x 3". The buckle measures 3 " x 3". The belt has a raw craftsmanship feel and the artist has used light weight silver to create it. A great example of belts of this time period.

 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.