Concha belts

See the Vintage Gallery for details on this fine belt.

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An overlay concha belt by Willie Yazzie Sr. Each concha is 2 inches in diameter. Willie apprenticed at Dean Kirk's store, west of Gallup, working there for roughly ten years (late 1950s-early 1960s) and also demonstrated at the Mesa Verde National Park for some twenty years. He died in 1999. $1600 (SANTA FE)

This Navajo concha belt was pawned, according to the tag, June 27, 1953 by one Charlie Dixon. It was purchased later, out of dead pawn, by the actor Lee Marvin. Documentation signed by his widow, Pamela Marvin, is available with this belt.

This beautifully designed and crafted concha belt was made by Rick Martinez. He comes from a family of Navajo silversmiths who work in an older style. The buckle measures3.25 by 2.5 inches and each of the eight conchas is 2 1/8 by 2 5/8 inches. (SANTA FE)

A great old style stampwork belt by the master: Sunshine Reeves. Each of the nine conchas is 3 by 2.5 inches. The buckle is 2 3.8 by 3 inches. $3600. (SANTA FE)

Another classic belt by a master -sadly, gone. Harry Morgan is credited with helping revive and popularize old style Navajo jewelry. The conchas measure 2 by 2.5 inches and the buckle is 2.5 by 3 inches. Set with great natural spiderweb turquoise. (Sorry, I can't make a solid guess on which mine and Harry used a variety of fine turquoise.) $1875. (TUCSON)