NATIVE AMERICAN BRASS
CONCHO BELT – HAND STAMPED DESIGNS ON THE MATCHING SET
OF CONCHOS – A VERY ATTRACTIVE OLD BELT:
This is a very attractive old Brass Concho Belt in the
style once common to almost all of the western Plains,
Southwest and Plateau tribes. In spite of the large
number of these belts which appear in the old period
photographs, they are seldom offered on the market
today, particularly belts which exhibit the high quality
metal work seen on these conchos.
The eleven matching heavy
brass plate conchos have an attractive deep-domed shape
which results in the conchos standing ½” high - well
proud of the belt surface. All of the conchos bear the
same matching hand stamped design featuring a central
star-like design surrounded by a continuous peripheral
design. On the reverse, is soldered a hand formed brass
loop. All of the conchos retain a very attractive even
aged patina, and all retain their full form with no
dents or other damage.
The heavy harness leather
base belt, measuring 35 ½” long and 3” wide, shows all
the characteristics of age and heavy wear, but it still
remains pliable without any weak points or integrity
problems. The surface is flexed where it would have
conformed to the body, and there is some crazing and
flexing in the center of the belt where it would have
been subjected to the most wear across the front of the
body assuming it was tied over the spine. The belt is
apparently original to the domed conchos as the on the
inside of the belt, depressions of the same shape as the
conchos are pressed into the leather where the conchos
were secured to the belt with the heavy continuous
buckskin thong. The ends of the belt are punched with
holes through which the buckskin tie would be secured.
This belt would display well in either a Native American
Art collection or Western gun and gun leather
collection, and in either case this beautiful belt would
be an outstanding addition. (0440) $2450
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