Mark Contreras Edward Bohlin/navajo Style Us Dollar Belt Buckle Sterling Silver

1900 US Peace Dollar Repousse' "Cherokee Chief". 3.0" X 2.6". Will accept a belt of up to 1.6.

It is guaranteed to be Sterling Silver and authentic. Marc Contreras is one of six sons of Alberto Contreras.

All six boys became jewelers as they began to help their father at an early age. Michael Contreras has a shop here in Tucson. He has a black and white picture of himself and several of his five siblings working in Alberto's shop as children.

Mark and I sat down several months ago with some of my pictures and talked about design ideas as Mark sketches his vision for this buckle. I have done some searching over time and have never really seen this done well. You might find some "smudgy" examples of Kennedy Half-Dollars or other coins that did not really work out. As with the art of creating coins themselves, the secret is in having a meticulously executed negative die to press the Silver Dollar into, and also tremendous pressure employed in the actual pressing. This image is very crisp and the Indian profile was well designed. It works well, and you can distinctly see the date and the other inscriptions around the edge on the obverse of the 120 year old Silver Dollar Coin. The theme is a combination of my desire to have a Navajo style Buckle, an Edward H. Bohlin feel with respect to his most popular "Chief Red Wolf" full face warrior image, and even Frank Patania infuence as interpreted by Mark, who's father Alberto worked with for many years. I wanted Water Drops, Ropework, and Stamping too. Mark came up with the "Old Pawn Finish" to make it just right and make it look and feel in time sync with the old Coin. It was a fun process and I hope you like it! Notice how this is Large, Thick, and Heavy! This is well designed too.. Alberto Contreras (Mark's Dad). Invited Alberto into his Thunderbird Shop here in Tucson. He worked elbow to elbow with lots of the legendary smiths that have become famous in the history of Native and American jewelry making. Carlos Diaz and Frank Patania Jr. Are two of those alumnae that remained here in Tucson. In 1949 Alberto opened his own shop here in Tucson at 146 West Drachman.

It is a real honor to be involved with such magical jewelry that came from of the shops of Contreras, Diaz, and Patania here in Tucson, Arizona. I thank You and look forward to sharing a good experience! "AMERICAN INDIAN JEWELRY I" - Gregory Schaaf. "AMERICAN INDIAN JEWELRY II: A-L".

"HALLMARKS OF THE SOUTHWEST"- Barton Wright. THE LITTLE BOOK OF SOUTHWESTERN SILVER - Billie Hougart - page 96. "ZUNI JEWELRY" - Theda and Michael Bassman. "ZUNI THE ART AND THE PEOPLE VOLUMES 1-3" - Barbara & Ed Bell- Volume.

"KNIFEWING AND RAINBOW MAN IN ZUNI JEWELRY". For reference only Buckle MC.

The item "MARK CONTRERAS Edward Bohlin/Navajo Style US DOLLAR Belt Buckle STERLING SILVER" is in sale since Friday, April 2, 2021. This item is in the category "Jewelry & Watches\Ethnic, Regional & Tribal\Southwestern"." and is located in Tucson, Arizona. This item can be shipped to United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Denmark, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czech republic, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Estonia, Australia, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus, Slovenia, Japan, China, Sweden, South Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, South africa, Thailand, Belgium, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Bahamas, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland, Norway, Saudi arabia, Ukraine, United arab emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Croatia, Malaysia, Chile, Colombia, Costa rica, Panama, Trinidad and tobago, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Barbados, Bangladesh, Bermuda, Brunei darussalam, Bolivia, Egypt, French guiana, Guernsey, Gibraltar, Guadeloupe, Iceland, Jersey, Jordan, Cambodia, Cayman islands, Liechtenstein, Sri lanka, Luxembourg, Monaco, Macao, Martinique, Maldives, Nicaragua, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Reunion, Uruguay.

• Modified Item: No
• Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
• Clasp Type: Buckle
• Signed?925
• Signed: Yes
• Main Stone: Turquoise
• Metal: Sterling Silver
• Jewelry Type: Belt Buckles