Sea Foam turquoise is produced by several mines and putting a label to this kind of stone is futile. Suffice to say they’re magnificent and their application in this Navajo Shadowbox belt buckle is a real testament to the artistic vision of this talented Navajo artisan—the shadowbox cut-outs are true to the stone shapes and were done with great attention to detail and a high level of craftsmanship. The serrated bezel on the main stones has been worn completely smooth from use on the edges that were exposed when the buckle was worn. The unusual bear claw cut-outs feature elongated claws and holes for the pads of the paws, rendering a unique interpretation of this iconic Native American symbol. The buckle is hallmarked “JW” which matches up with a few names in my hallmark references, but none of them produced work of this style or caliber. This remarkable Navajo creation measures 3 1/8” by 2.25”, its 5/16” thick and weighs 56 grams. The buckle is made for a 1.5” belt, the edges are worn smooth from extended use and it’s covered in heavy patina. This outstanding and unusual buckle is in excellent condition and would make a stellar addition to any collection.
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