DISHTA BUCKLE BOLO SET NATIVE AMERICAN JEWELRY

Offered here is an awesome, highly detailed belt buckle and bolo tie set made by the very well known, important Zuni silversmith and jewelry maker, Virgil Dishta Jr.  The pieces are signed V M Dishta S/S.  The buckle measures 4” x 3” and weighs 90.7 grams.  It will take up to a 1 ¾” leather belt.  The bolo slide measures 2 9/16” in diameter and weighs approximately 62 grams.  The bolo tips each weigh approx. 4.3 grams and measure 1 ¼” high by 1” wide.  Note the intricacy of the design.  A highly desirable set for both wearing and or collecting.

The family jewelry tradition began with Frank Dishta born in Zuni NM. 1902-1954.  Franks son Virgil Dishta, Sr. carried on his father’s legacy doing exquisite channel inlay using silver, turquoise, coral, jet and mother-of-pearl.  One of Virgil Sr's favorite designs was covered wagons.  The design has also become a favorite of is son Virgil Jr. who created the beautiful Conestoga wagon bolo and buckle set offered here.  The crescent moon shapes outlining both pieces are channel inlaid with mother-of-pearl and turquoise dots.  Both wagons are also done with moth-of-pearl and turquoise channel inlay.  The birds over the wagons are done with coral dots. There is a small horseshoe under the center of each wagon for good luck during the journey.  The bolo tips show the back of the wagon and both sets of wheels turn freely.  The grass and vegetation around the wagons is done with silver wire and filings.

The Zuni Indians learned to silversmith from the Navajo in the early 1870's. The Zuni, because they had permanent homes unlike the nomadic Navajo, were able to use many tools that the Navajo could not easily carry with them. With the lapidary wheels they started cutting stones and using the silver to hold their stones in patterns. Today, Zuni silversmiths are known for their lapidary skills. Both channel inlay (using precisely cut stones set on silver to form figures & designs), cluster and needlepoint (setting small, similarly cut stones in geometric patterns) are traditional Zuni styles. There are many legends about Turquoise; The Pima consider it to bring good fortune & strength and that it helped overcome illness. The Zuni believe that blue turquoise was male and of the sky and green turquoise was female and of the earth. In Hopi legend the lizard who travels between the above and the below, excretes turquoise and that the stone can hold back floods. The Apache felt that turquoise on a gun or bow made it shoot straight. Pueblo Indians thought that its color was stolen from the sky.  The Navajo consider it as good fortune to wear and believe it could appease the Wind Spirit.  What a great Christmas idea!

…Through the years, quality Native American art work such as blankets, rugs and jewelry have always done very well in holding or increasing in value during uncertain economic times. 

We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express through Paypal.  When paying by PayPal, we will NOT ship to an unconfirmed address.  We ship pronto after receiving cleared payment.  We will gladly reduce shipping costs on multiple items paid for same day or within an agreed upon time frame if it is feasible to pack them together.  We will then invoice you with the newly adjusted shipping fees which are usually much cheaper than shown on the shipping calculator.  Please ask all questions and/or for more photos before end of auction.  Shipping choices shown below are the only way we will ship internationally. Canadian winners must provide phone number with payment when shipping by UPS. 

We have been offering Navajo weavings on eBay since 1999 and we invite you to review our feedback.  Feel free to email or call us in New Mexico (575) 278-2400, with any questions or concerns.  (We do not do email appraisals or opinions on weavings unless we have the item in our hands, by appointment.)  We do not charge a handling fee nor a buyer’s premium.  We do not end auctions early to sell to email offers, but we will consider Best Offers by phone or email after an item has ended without meeting the reserve.  If a price can be worked out, then we can set up a Buy It Now for you.  (When emailing, please include your email address in the text of your message.)  We are always listing more items on eBay each Thursday night at 8 pm MT with them going off at 8 pm MT each Sunday night.  Our quick access address here on eBay is www.ranchfolks.net. Click on the me icon by our above feedback number for a link to our Navajo Rug Company’s website.  +++  Be sure to add us to your favorites list  and then check out our other items that will always include old Navajo rugs and blankets!  We are proud to be Lifetime Members of NBSSCA - The National Bit, Spur & Saddle Collectors Association where the mission is to preserve & protect our Western Heritage.  …….Your satisfaction is highly valued with us…©