Stamped silver concha button / Native American; Navajo (Diné)

Essay/Description

Stamped silver concha button.

Concha buttons were originally used as belt decoration. These smaller buttons were used to decorate a variety of clothing and accessories.

You may be interested in...

Navajo throw rug

Silver stamped concha button in a geometric design

Navaho Woman & Child Gathering Corn Pollen

Harrison Begay

Anthropology Item Information

©Gilcrease Museum

Title(s):

Stamped silver concha button

Culture:

Native American; Navajo (Diné)

Date:

circa 1880

Period:

Historic

Place:

United States of America

Materials/Techniques:

silver

Classification:

Ethnographic Objects

Object Type:

Concho

Accession No:

60.127

Department:

Anthropology

Not On View

Dimensions

Overall:

Height: 0 19/50in. (1.0cm)
Depth: 1 1/4in. (3.2cm)

Tags and Search Terms

Tags:

adornment, Concho, Indian, Indians, jewelry, Native American, Navajo, Navajo Indians, silver, silverwork, southwest, trade, United States of America

The Navajo made concha belts, the idea of which is thought to have come from Plains oval plaques that decorated one’s hair or belt. Others believe the Navajo concha belt originated from Spanish designs. Conchas usually have a decorated outside edge and center, where the belt loops through. They began as buttons, but increased in size and complexity over time, especially as belt decorations (Durbin 1999, 489).

» View All

Cite this Page

Stamped silver concha button. 60.127. circa 1880. Tulsa: Gilcrease Museum, https://dci-collections.gilcrease.org/object/60127 (04/12/2018).

Our Online Collections site is a work in progress. If you have information about this item that may be of assistance, please contact us.

Gilcrease Museum is temporarily closed for construction.

Gilcrease Museum

The World’s Largest Collection of Art and Artifacts of the American West