Concho Belts (Concha Belts) Concho Belts are among the most striking pieces of Native American Indian jewelry. Concho Belts are almost always made of sterling silver with detailed hand-stamped designs, and often have set or inlaid stones of Turquoise, Lapis, Coral, etc.
Why are concho belts so expensive?
Concho Belts can cost into the thousands of dollars depending upon the craftsmanship, amount of silver and rarity of turquoise or gemstones used.
How are concho belts worn?
They were strung vertically on red trade cloth, horse hair, or leather. Men would wear this stripe of adornment in their hair and women would wear them as belts, sometimes reaching six feet long. The Navajos owned concha belts long before they learned silversmithing.
What is a Concho used for?
Conchos come from the Mexican vaquero tradition and serve both a decorative and a utilitarian role on western saddles. Conchos are metal disks, traditionally with two slits to allow saddle strings to pass through and secure the saddle’s skirts to the saddle tree.
Do men wear concho belts?
Both men and women wear concho belts, and these belts are a long standing tradition for men in the Southwest.
What is a silver concho?
This silver concho, or decorative shell, came from a Spanish presidio on the Texas coast, and was likely used on a saddle or bridle for a soldier’s horse. Although La Salle’s efforts ended in disaster, the Spanish realized that they would lose the Southwest to the French if they did not defend their interests.
How many Conchos are in a belt?
Most popular placement of conchos for belts uses 4 or 6 conchos placed six inches apart across backside of belt.
Are concho belts in style?
Concho Belts in Today’s Western Fashion In today’s current world of western fashion, the concho belt is something that hasn’t yet gone out of style. It is timeless, as some would say.
What is a Navajo concho belt?
They were strung vertically on red trade cloth, horsehair, or leather. Men would wear this stripe of adornment in their hair and women would wear them as belts, sometimes reaching six feet long. They were made from German Silver, Copper, and Brass. The Navajos owned concha belts long before they learned silversmithing.
What Is a Conchos?
concho in British English (ˈkɒntʃəʊ) nounWord forms: plural -chos. US. a metal ornament, often silver and round or oval, that is traditionally used on clothing in southwestern USA.
How do you use Concho?
Slot Concho Safety & Use Position the bit and put the tie strings through the holes in the bit end of headstall. Slide the concho down strings. Open holes in the tie strings with an awl. Pull the tie strings up. Lift the strings and again place bottom string through the hole in the top string.
Where is the Concho on a saddle?
They also provide a backing for conchos. Latigo Carrier: The latigo carrier is located on the right side of the saddle (if you’re facing it head on. It’s on the left if you’re riding) and is used to secure the loose end of the latigo, whether after the horse is cinched up or for storage.
What is a concho belt buckle?
Old Pawn Native American Concho Belts, Buckles The classic concho belt (named for concha, the Spanish for shell) was first created by Navajo silversmiths inspired by silver items from other cultures – most likely from Spanish buckles and German silver hair plate decorations traded by Europeans to Plains peoples.
What is a concho jewelry?
The word concho comes from the Spanish word “concha”, meaning “conch” or “seashell” or just “shell”, but has come to more commonly mean oval, round, or occasionally rectangular discs of silver used to adorn belts, for jewelry such as pendants or bolo ties, and to decorate saddles and horse bridles.
Did American Indians wear earrings?
Long before the Europeans settled in America and introduced the natives to silversmithing, the Native American tribes used natural resources such as bones, stones, wood, shells, and turquoise to craft earrings, necklaces, pins, bracelets, and other pieces. Dec 9, 2016.
Why do cowboys wear big belt buckles?
Why are belt buckles significant among cowboys? They are used as cowboy calling cards. They are used as a way of preserving Cowboys’ history. Buckle belts can be won as trophies.
Is Concho Resources for sale?
ConocoPhillips on Monday agreed to buy U.S. shale oil producer Concho Resources Inc for $9.7 billion, as the energy sector continued to consolidate amid lower fuel prices and demand. n.a.
How do you spell Conchos?
a river in NE Mexico, flowing E and N to the Rio Grande. About 350 miles (565 km) long.
What is the back of the saddle called?
CANTLE. The cantle is the back part of the saddle that extends out from the seat.
What is the gullet of a saddle?
The gullet is the tunnel underneath the fork and rides over the horse’s withers. The design of the fork and the angle of the bars of the saddle tree determine the width and height of the gullet.
How much leather is needed for a belt?
As for materials – any long piece of 8-9 oz vegetable tanned leather will do (this is the type you can dye and really work with). Oh – and you will want to pick out your belt buckle (wideness will determine belt wideness), and your method of securing the belt buckle and belt loop.
Why do Native Americans wear a lot of jewelry?
Traditionally, Native Americans used jewelry to showcase their rank, their history, and their individuality. Jewelry was used to carry traditions between the generations (as written language was never developed by the Native Americans).
What does Native American jewelry look like?
American Indian artists use only high-quality stones and metals in their jewelry. A genuine piece will have no wavering lines or lopsided designs, well-cut stones that are uniform in size, and no visible glue between the metal and stone.
What is a Native American symbol?
Native American symbols are geometric portrayals of celestial bodies, natural phenomena and animal designs. Animals were drawn as symbols which were taken as spiritual guides and stood for the qualities and traits of the animal that the symbol represented.