Skip to main content
Video Loading
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 14

Vintage 4-Piece Ranger Buckle Set with Horse Inlay by Lincoln and Helen Zunie

About the Item

This remarkable vintage belt is the work of Zuni husband-and-wife duo Lincoln and Helen Zunie (deceased) who are well-known and widely recognized for their remarkable inlay work, particularly of animal images. The buckle on this beauty is an intricate horse in profile crafted from turquoise, black onyx, red coral, and shell, accented by matching keepers and tip. Whether you love horses or simply have an appreciation for inlay, this is a covetable collector. About the artists Lincoln Zunie (1938-1983, Zuni). Active 1960s-1970s. Channel inlay; figural inlay, often horse or cow motifs. Father of Patty Zunie Edaakie. Brother of Joe and William Zunie. Lincoln Zunie shared the stamp with his wife Helen Zunie (d). Helen Zunie (? - 2008; Zuni). Active 1960s - 1970s. Channel inlay, figural inlay, often horse or cow motifs. Helen shared the stamp with her husband, Lincoln Zunie. Helen and Lincoln Zunie are Native American jewelry artists who create traditional and contemporary pieces using techniques passed down through generations of their family. The Zunie family is from the Zuni Pueblo, a Native American tribe located in New Mexico known for their intricate and highly skilled jewelry-making. Helen and Lincoln Zunie work with a variety of materials, including turquoise, coral, and sterling silver. They are known for their distinctive inlay work, which involves carefully cutting and shaping stones to create intricate designs that are then set into the metal of the jewelry. The Zunies create a range of jewelry pieces, including necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and rings. They often incorporate traditional Zuni symbols and designs into their work, such as the "sunface" symbol, which represents the four cardinal directions and the cyclical nature of life. Helen and Lincoln Zunie have won numerous awards for their jewelry, including the prestigious "Best of Show" award at the Santa Fe Indian Market in 2011. Their work is highly prized by collectors and is considered an important contribution to the ongoing tradition of Native American jewelry-making. Artist: Helen & Lincoln Zunie (deceased) Hallmarks: H-L ZUNIE Materials: sterling silver, shell, turquoise, onyx, coral Measurements: buckle: 2 ¼” x 3 ¾”; keeper: 1” x 3/8”; tip: ¾” x 1 ¼” Price is for buckle set only. Belts are sold separately.

More From This Seller

View All
Sterling Silver & 18k Gold 4-Piece Ranger Buckle Set by Mona Van Riper
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Sterling silver ranger set by Santa Fe artist Mona Van Riper. The set consists of a 2 1/8” x 2 1/4” buckle, two keepers and a tip. The buckle and keepers have 18k gold star accents with garnets and amethysts. Made to fit a 1” belt. Price is for buckle set only. Belts are sold separately. About the Artist Mona Van Riper was raised in Santa Fe and Taos, New Mexico. She began silver-smithing at the Mabel Dodge Lujan House in Taos in 1976. Making and designing jewelry has been a constant part of her life ever since. Mona is most well-known for her elaborate and intricate buckles, whether with a western theme, crown, fleur-de-lis, heart or with her eponymous skulls. Most of the country’s finest buckle makers—often artisans who learned the skills from their fathers and grandfathers—ply their craft in remote locales, often in obscurity. Mona Van Riper fits that profile. She creates one-of-a-kind turquoise, 18-karat gold, and sterling silver buckles in a 10-by-10-foot utility room in her home located on a dirt road, miles outside of Santa Fe, N.M. Mona’s early jewelry was heavy stamped Southwestern style made from hand-cast ingots and coins. Over the years her style has developed into a more sophisticated and contemporary look while maintaining her signature old-world flavor. In 1992 Mona introduced engraving into her work which has given her jewelry a broader appeal. Mona’s unique jewelry is made from sterling silver in combination with 18 karat gold overlays and engraving. She often uses rare and very high-grade custom cut turquoise in her pieces. Mixing precious and semi-precious stones also gives her jewelry a timeless look. You will find notable differences in quality between artisan-made belt buckles and those that major luxury brands’ machines churn out by the thousands. Handmade solid silver and...
Category

20th Century American Native American Vanity Items

Materials

18k Gold, Sterling Silver

Sterling Silver & 18 Karat Gold 4-Piece Ranger Buckle Set by Mona Van Riper
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Heavy gauge sterling silver ranger set by Santa Fe artist Mona Van Riper. The 2” x 2 ¼” buckle has two 18 karat gold flowers with red garnets in the center. The two keepers and the tip also have an 18 karat gold floral motif with garnets. The set is made for a 1” belt. Price is for buckle set only. Belts are sold separately. Santa Fe artist Mona Van Riper is known for her unique one of a kind jewelry. She is a favorite of collectors because of her unique designs and she chooses only the highest quality stones. Day of the Dead figures and skulls are among her favorite designs. She has been designing jewelry since 1976. About the Artist Mona Van Riper was raised in Santa Fe and Taos, New Mexico. She began silver-smithing at the Mabel Dodge Lujan House in Taos in 1976. Making and designing jewelry has been a constant part of her life ever since. Mona is most well-known for her elaborate and intricate buckles, whether with a western theme, crown, fleur-de-lis, heart or with her eponymous skulls. Most of the country’s finest buckle makers—often artisans who learned the skills from their fathers and grandfathers—ply their craft in remote locales, often in obscurity. Mona Van Riper fits that profile. She creates one-of-a-kind turquoise, 18-karat gold, and sterling silver buckles in a 10-by-10-foot utility room in her home located on a dirt road, miles outside of Santa Fe, N.M. Mona’s early jewelry was heavy stamped Southwestern style made from hand-cast ingots and coins. Over the years her style has developed into a more sophisticated and contemporary look while maintaining her signature old-world flavor. In 1992 Mona introduced engraving into her work which has given her jewelry a broader appeal. Mona’s unique jewelry is made from sterling silver in combination with 18 karat gold overlays and engraving. She often uses rare and very high-grade custom cut turquoise in her pieces. Mixing precious and semi-precious stones also gives her jewelry a timeless look. You will find notable differences in quality between artisan-made belt buckles and those that major luxury brands’ machines churn out by the thousands. Handmade solid silver and...
Category

20th Century American Native American Vanity Items

Materials

Gold, Sterling Silver

Statue of Liberty Inlay Buckle by Navajo Silversmith Calvin Desson
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
The 2” x 3” buckle has Carico Lake turquoise, lapis, coral and alabaster. Made for a 1 1/8” belt. Price is for buckle only. Belts are sold separately. Navajo lapidary artist Calvin...
Category

20th Century American Native American Vanity Items

Materials

Sterling Silver

Lone Mountain Turquoise Buckle by Kee Yazzie
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Hollow Form Sterling Silver Western Belt Buckle with Overlaid Petroglyph Designs and set with Natural Lone Mountain Turquoise from Nevada. This buc...
Category

20th Century American Native American Vanity Items

Materials

Sterling Silver

Lone Mountain Turquoise Buckle by Navajo Silversmith Fidel Bahe
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Sterling Silver Buckle with Hand-Stamped Designs and set with Natural Lone Mountain Turquoise. Made for a 1 ¼” belt. The Lone Mountain Turquoise Mine is located in Esmeralda County, Nevada. This turquoise is known for its ability to hold color and not fade. Lone Mountain turquoise ranges in color from clear blue to intense blue spiderweb. The mine is also known as the Blue Jay Mine. Lone Mountain turquoise ranks higher than most other turquoise on the hardness scale, which may explain one of the unique qualities of these stones. About the Artist Fidel Bahe was born in 1949 at Keams Canyon, Arizona. He is the firstborn of eight children--two sisters and five brothers. He studied architecture and engineering at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff before taking up silversmithing at the age of 24. Fidel focused on traditional Navajo designs with his own creative style. In 1976, Preston Monongye...
Category

20th Century American Native American Vanity Items

Materials

Sterling Silver

Contemporary Sterling Silver Tufa Cast Buckle by Navajo Silversmith Fidel Bahe
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Tufa cast sterling silver buckle by Navajo silversmith Fidel Bahe. The 3 1/2” x 2 1/2” contemporary buckle has a stylized male Yei head. Made for a 1 1/2” belt. Tufa casting is a technique of pouring molten silver into a tufa stone mold and letting it harden into a given form. The mold is only used once; therefore each item is an original piece. The Yei are the Navajo Holy People. About the Artist Fidel Bahe was born in 1949 at Keams Canyon, Arizona. He is the firstborn of eight children--two sisters and five brothers. He studied architecture and engineering at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff before taking up silversmithing at the age of 24. Fidel focused on traditional Navajo designs with his own creative style. In 1976, Preston Monongye...
Category

20th Century American Native American Vanity Items

Materials

Sterling Silver

You May Also Like

Sterling Silver and Multi-Gemstone Inlay Zuni 4-Piece Ranger Buckle Set, 1992
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Channel Inlay Ranger Buckle Set with Two Keepers and a Belt Tip by Zuni Pueblo silversmith Zora Joe. Inlaid with Turquoise, Spiny Oyster Shell, Jet, and...
Category

Late 20th Century American Native American Vanity Items

Materials

Multi-gemstone, Turquoise, Other, Sterling Silver

Southwestern Sterling Coral Inlay Belt Buckle Set
Located in Webster, SD
This beautiful belt buckle set is sterling silver with coral inlay. The slides measures 5/8 by 1 1/16 inches - the buckle measures 2 1/16 by 2 1/16 inches. This buckle set is made t...
Category

Vintage 1970s American Native American Vanity Items

Materials

Coral, Sterling Silver

Gorham Sterling Silver Three Piece Vintage Vanity Set
By Gorham
Located in Mount Kisco, NY
Elegant touch points that enhance your daily routine can make all the difference in setting the tone for the day. Treat yourself and adorn your vanity with this beautiful estate trio...
Category

Vintage 1950s North American Art Nouveau Vanity Items

Materials

Sterling Silver

Vintage Black Alligator Belt with Sterling Silver Buckle
Located in New York, NY
A Statement of Timeless Luxury and Artistry Elevate your wardrobe with this Vintage Belt, exquisitely crafted from black alligator leather and adorned with signature sterling silver...
Category

Late 20th Century American Contemporary Vanity Items

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver

Vintage Brown Alligator Belt with Sterling Silver Buckle
Located in New York, NY
A Fusion of Luxury, Artistry, and Timeless Style Elevate your wardrobe with this vintage sterling silver buckle belt, crafted from genuine brown-colored alligator leather and finishe...
Category

Late 20th Century American Contemporary Vanity Items

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver

Antique Art Deco 13 Piece Sterling Silver 925 Vanity Dresser Set with Fitted Box
Located in Baltimore, MD
Antique 13 Piece Sterling Silver 925 Vanity Dresser Set With Fitted Box/Case Metal: Sterling silver 13 pieces Box/Case is original and has wear on o...
Category

Early 20th Century European Art Deco Vanity Items

Materials

Sterling Silver

Recently Viewed

View All