Description
- Beautiful Sterling Silver and Sleeping Beauty Turquoise (with quartz) belt buckle
- Hallmarked RLB Husband and wife Robert and Bernice Leekya from Zuni Pueblo are known for their bold turquoise jewelry and channel inlay.
- Robert (1934-) and Bernice Leekya have been making jewelry since 1953.
- Robert was taught the art of silversmithing by his father and famous fetish carver, the esteemed Leekya Deyuse (1889-1966) during the 1940s.
- Robert started working in in 1953. He has won many awards for his cluster work Robert’s mother was Juanita Cooyate.
- Bernice Leekya, born in 1920, is the daughter of Zuni artists Doris Ondelacy and Wayne Ondelacy, who taught her inlay and cluster work.
- Robert and Bernice Leekya have been making beautiful nugget watches, bolos, belt buckles and belts together since the 1960s. To view a fabulous matching bolo tie for sale on this website, please click HERE!
- To view a similar belt buckle (but half the weight and much smaller size) on this website, please click HERE!
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Condition
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Vintage Excellent
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Size of Belt Buckle
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2-3/4″ wide x 1-7/8″ tall / accepts up to 1-1/4″ belt
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Materials Used
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Sleeping Beauty Turquoise, Sterling Silver
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Weight in Grams
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50.5
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Hallmarks
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RLB, Sterling |
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Artist’s Identity
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Robert and Bernice Leekya, Zuni Silversmiths |
