VINTAGE 10 CONCHO BELT by VICTOR M. BEGAY 680 Stones VMB mark-OLD SCHOOL ZUNI Turqoise/Silver MUSEUM QUALITY Start Price USD 9,975.00 Current Price USD 9,975.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Friday, July 18, 2008 End Time Monday, July 28, 2008 Location Bridgeport, CT See more about 'VINTAGE 10 CONCHO BELT by VICTOR M. BEGAY 680 Stones' Description RENOWNED VICTOR MOSES BEGAY[VICTOR M. BEGAY - VMB mark ] NAVAJO VINTAGE SILVER & TURQUOISE COCHO BELT10 Inlaid CONCHA [680 STONES!!] - VINTAGE WORK -- ZUNI STYLE NO RESERVE OFFERING!! ============================ AN ABSOLUTELY UNPARALLED GIFT FOR THAT SPECIAL PERSON IN YOUR LIFE [Even if it's YOU!!]MORE PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUESTA COLLECTOR'S CLASSIC SILVER BELTTURQUOISE & SILVER CONCHA BELT QUITE SIMPLY, A MASTERPIECE FROM A TOP ARTIST BELONGS IN THE FINEST PRIVATE or MUSEUM COLLECTIONA STUNNING & DELIGHTFUL EXAMPLE OF NATIVE AMERICAN SILVERSMITHING Piece belived to date FROM THE 1950s or very early 1960sEXCELLENT CONDITION [more photos available upon request]>>>>>>  <<<<<<<<<FULL FRONT VIEW of BELT BEING WORN: This image shows Large Main Buckle, and FOUR [4] of the other NINE [9] Inlaid Concha Main Belt Buckle is 5 1/4" [133.3 mm] tall by 5" [127 mm] wideCONCHA BELTS ARE ONE OF THE MOST STRIKING ARTICLES OF INDIAN JEWELRY============================10 MEDALLIONS 680 Petite Points Turquoise STONES in TOTALThe LARGE buckle has a Mark/Signature: VMB of the maker on the backside. Earlier, I had written that this was the mark of Zuni artists Valentino & Matilda Banteah, but research has clarified that it is the work of respected Navajo artist Victor M. Begay who did his primary work from the late 1950s until 1983. 10 MEDALLIONS 680 Petit PointsSleeping Beauty Turquoise STONES in TOTALTotal weight of silver and turquoise in this outstanding belt is 1 lb 8.6 oz [698 grams] MAIN BUCKLE MEDALLION ALONE: - 5" wide [127mm] by 5 1/4" tall [133 mm] !! Contains 194 petite point pieces, of which 170 are teardrop shaped superfine teardrop turquoise stones measuring 8 mm by 4.5 mm wide in the main buckle, each turquoise piece set in serrated bezels, and 24 round cabochons on the inner border, each 4 mm wide. The main medallion is embellished with 5 twisted wire outlines between the rows of turquoise. Each concha and buckle were cut from sheet sterling silver and then decorated with each piece of silver and turquoise which were individually applied. >The main, larger Buckle medallion, and the other 9 smaller Concha medallions have an inlaid center identical in size. This inlaid center shows a front view of an Indian, in headdress, and the center inlay is fabricated of mother-of-pearl, coral, turquoise, jet, and shell. Each center inlay measures 1 5/8" high by 1 3/16" wide. This belt features incomparable CRAFTSMANSHIP, and it belongs in a museum of the finest Native American art, or a possesion of the most discriminating collector.BELT FEATURES 9 SMALLER MEDALLIONS each with 54 petite points of which 31 are teardrop shaped measuring 8 mm by 4.5 mm wide. There are also 23 round turquoise cabochons on the inner border, each 4 mm wide. In total there are 486 petite points in the 9 smaller medallions alone in addition to the main buckle with 194 petite points for a total of 680 pieces of turquoise set in silver bezels.Each of smaller belt ovals measure 3 3/8" high by 2 3/4" wide. Each smaller oval has an inlaid center identical in size to main buckle. Center features mother-of-pearl, coral, turquoise, and silver, and and measures 1 5/8" high by 1 3/16 wide. SIZE: From outside edge of the large buckle to the tip of the leather belt this belt measures 42". From the pin on the backside to the hole on the leather belt the distance is 33 1/2". FULL FRONT VIEW -CLOSER IMAGE Showing Large Main Buckle, and four [4] of nine Inlaid Concha:============================SIDE VIEW of BELT BEING WORN:===========================BACK VIEW SHOWS 5 of 9 Inlaid Concha: ===========================CLOSER VIEW OF MAIN BUCKLE & ONE OF 9 SMALLER ROUND MEDALLION BELT UNITS:  Main Buckle is 5" wide [127mm] by 5 1/4" tall [133 mm] !!===========================CLOSE-UP OF CENTER BUCKLE/MEDALLION:=========================== CLOSE-UP OF Artist's VMB [Victor Moses Begay] Stamping Mark on Underside of Large Buckle Medallion:============================ Victor Moses Begay – A highly respected Navajo artisan who stamps his work VMB as seen on the buckle. Victor actively made jewelry from the late 1950s to late 1983s. He specialized in making concho belts and bracelets. His work has been exhibited in many fine museums. Begay worked in and around Kingman, Arizona and would have sold it personally to a shop in the area which resold it to a private party or dealer. My late sister purchased this item from a  jewelry dealer in New York City specializing in the finest Southwesterm American Indian jewelry in the late 1960s.  =========================This work would be a MARVELOUS ADDITION TO YOUR COLLECTION OF NATIVE AMERICAN ART & JewelryAS A COMPARABLE ON THE VALUE OF THIS INCREDIBLE VINTAGE NATIVE AMERICAN BELT, SEE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AND LINK FOR THIS IDENTICAL VICTOR M. BEGAY BELT WHICH IS BEING OFFERED BY AN ESTABLISHED NATIVE AMERICAN DEALER FOR $12,000:"Navajo Concho Belt – pear shaped Turquoise with Apache Dancer inlay - Large buckle with 10 Conchos handmade by Victor Moses Begay – Navajo stamps his work VMB as shown on the buckle. Victor actively made jewelry from the late 1950s to late 1983s. He specialized in making concho belts and bracelets in the Zuni clusterwork. His work was exhibited in the Peabody Museum, Harvard University, J. B. Tanner’s Trading Post – NM." Click here to view IDENTICAL BEGAY BELT SELLING BY ESTABLISHED GALLERY FOR $12,000 IMAGE OF ESSENTIALLY IDENTICAL VICTOR M. BEGAY BELT BEING SOLD AT THIS MOMENT BY an ESTABLISHED INDIAN ART RETAILER OF MORE THAN 23 YEARS FOR $12,000 ]vs. much lower price in this auction. [NOTE: The inlaid medallions in this piece shown below by an on-line dealer lack the red, coral elements included in my eBay offering]: Visit MY EBAY STORE to see MORE original pop lithographs, other pieces of art glass, and MUCH MORE!!!! RADPROJECT2 SEE MY OTHER SCREEN NAME: RADPROJECT to see my feedback rating of 99.7% based on over 650 positive feedback reports==================================== Please view the high resolution images included in this listing to see how unique and extraordinary an item is being offered, and to judge the condition of this item for yourself TERMS:For US buyers, Cashiers Check, Personal checks, Money order accepted with time to clear. Payment also accepted by bank transfer to speed delivery. Overnight shipping is available, upon request for bank transfers.  Checks and Money Orders must clear before item is shipped which can delay shipment 10 business days or more. Any returned check will be subject to a fee of $30.00. Foreign buyers can pay by wire transfer or International Money Order with time to clear. No checks or PayPal accepted from non-US buyers. Thank you. Please e-mail if any questions before bidding as items are not sold on approval. Items are returnable for credit, only if due to some oversight the item is not as pictured or described in listing in some material way, and notice is given to seller within 3 days of receipt and a return authorization is provided. The purchase must be returned to seller within 10 days of receipt to qualify for credit under the above circumstances. If returned, purchase must be packaged as sent, and be received in the same excellent condition it was sent. Payment will be made to buyer under the above conditions after item is received and inspected by Seller. Click here to view my other auctions OTHER ITEMS OF ART OF THE AMERICAN WEST include JAMES BAMA Fine Art PRINTS [signed by artist and numbered] BEING OFFERED IN MY OTHER CURRENT AUCTIONS [OR SOON TO BE LISTED] INCLUDE AMONG OTHERS:INDIAN AT CROW FAIR22 3/4"t x 18 1/2" w overall19 1/4"t x 14" w matte188/1500Greenwich Workshop, Inc. - Year Printed: 1978===================PRE-COLUMBIAN INDIAN WITH ATLATL22" w x 18" matte18 1/2" x 14 3/4" image 192/1500Greenwich Workshop, Inc. 1979===================== A CROW INDIAN ===================SHOSHONE CHIEF =====================KEN BLACKBIRD =====================PORTRAIT OF A SIOUX=====================SOON TO BE LISTED ARE SIGNED/NUMBER WESTERN FINE ART PRINTS FROM DON CROWLEY, FRANK McCARTHY, AND HOWARD TERPING, including the following:FROM DON CROWLEY:=====================ARIZONA MOUNTAIN MAN=====================DESERT SUNSET =====================THE STAR QUILT =====================DORENA =====================HUDSON'S BAY BLANKET =====================SECURITY BLANKET =====================DORENA =====================FROM FRANK McCARTHY soon to be listed:=====================IN THE PASS =====================TO BATTLE =====================THE LONE SENTINALThe rarest and most prized of all of McCarthy's work! =====================THE PRAYER =====================COMANCHE MOON =====================RETREAT TO HIGHER GROUND =====================THE HUNT =====================THE LONE SURVIVOR =====================FROM HOWARD TERPING soon to be listed:=====================STONES THAT SPEAK =====================THE VICTORS =====================> Place a Bid!