Belt

This concho belt is only the second piece of Hopi silver work to enter the Met’s collection. It bears the maker’s mark of the award-winning Hopi artist Roy Talaheftewa. Its ornamental scheme, featuring ceremonial katsina figures, is characteristic of his exceptional work. Until World War II, Hopi silver jewelry was primarily stamped or cast. During the 1940s, the Hopi adopted a new and challenging technique called silver overlay, which is constructed from two separate sheets of silver. A design traced on one sheet is painstakingly cut out by hand with a fine jeweler’s saw and then soldered to a plain under sheet. The bottom sheet is textured using a hammer and punches, then oxidized to create a darkened background. The upper surfaced is buffed to a high polish.

Talahaftewa only produces 30 to 40 pieces a year, ensuring that his designs and craftsmanship remain at the highest level of quality. In addition to his continued experimentation with different jewelry techniques, he teaches Hopi youth the art of silversmithing, working with the non-profit Hopi Pu’tavi Project, Inc. He is a great advocate of Hopi artists at the Second Mesa on the reservation.