Navajo Sterling Silver and Turquoise Belt Buckle By Phillip Tso

ca. 1980

.625" H x 3.625" L x 2875" W

Hand Crafted Sterling Silver Belt Buckle with 2 Large Turquoise Stones Bar on Back fits 1.25" Leather Belt Signed PHIL T Made with Superior Workmanship with High Grade Natural Turquoise

Excellent Condition

Phillip Tso (also spelled Philip Tso), a Navajo artist known for his intricate work in sterling silver and high-grade turquoise. Navajo belt buckles like this one trace their origins to the mid-1800s, when silversmithing techniques were introduced to the Navajo people by Mexican artisans. Early buckles were often made from hammered silver coins (pesos), evolving into elaborate designs featuring stamped patterns, textured fields, and gemstone inlays that symbolize cultural motifs like healing, protection, and connection to the land. Turquoise, in particular, holds deep spiritual significance in Navajo tradition, representing the sky, water, and good fortune.