VINTAGE FRANK PATANIA BELT BUCKLE ONYX CORAL TURQUOISE MOP INLAY STERLING SILVER. THIS IS AN ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL ONE OF A KIND VINTAGE BELT BUCKLE FROM THE WORLD FAMOUS FRANK PATANIA THUNDERBIRD SHOP. THIS IS A ZUNI INSPIRED DESIGN USING ONYX, MOTHER OF PEARL, TURQUOISE AND CORAL. THE STERLING SILVER HAS A BEAUTIFUL PATINA. THE DESIGN REALLY STANDS OUT AGAINST THE RELIEF IN THE BACKGROUND. THE DESIGN HAS A SHADOW BOX EFFECT. THE STONES ARE STILL COMPLETELY SECURE AND INTACT, HOWEVER THERE ARE A FEW SMALL DEFECTS, AS YOU WOULD EXPECT IN A PIECE THIS OLD. THE ONYX FEATHER TIP SECOND IN FROM THE LEFT HAND SIDE IS MISSING. IT WAS FILLED IN WITH A BLACK FILLER AND IS ONLY NOTICEABLE UNDER CLOSE EXAMINATION. ALSO, THE CORAL ON THE BOTTOM LEFT APPEARS TO HAVE A FRACTURE BUT IT IS NOT IN ANY WAY LOOSE OR AT RISK OF FALLING OUT. OVERALL, THE PIECE IS IN GREAT SHAPE. AFTER A BIT OF RESEARCH ON THE HALLMARK, I WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT THIS PIECE LIKELY DATES BACK TO THE EARLY 1940’s. FRANK PATANIA BEGAN HALLMARKING HIS PIECES WITH THE THUNDERBIRD AND THE CONJOINED FP STAMP AT THAT TIME. HIS HALLMARK CHANGED IN THE 1950’s, SO WE KNOW FOR SURE IT IS PRE-1950. THIS IS A HIGHLY COLLECTIBLE PIECE THAT IS IN BEAUTIFUL CONDITION FOR BEING OVER 70 YEARS OLD! A MUST HAVE FOR THE COLLECTOR! WEIGHT: 69.0 GRAMS. SIGNED: THUNDERBIRD SYMBOL STERLING FP. All pictures are unedited, no enhancements or photo shop. The item “FRANK PATANIA ANTIQUE BELT BUCKLE STERLING SILVER ONYX CORAL TURQUOISE MOP INLAY” is in sale since Friday, December 11, 2015. This item is in the category “Jewelry & Watches\Vintage & Antique Jewelry\Vintage Handcrafted, Artisan”. The seller is “southwestflair” and is located in California. This item can be shipped to United States, to Canada, to Mexico.
- Jewelry Type: Belt Buckle
- Metal: Sterling Silver
- Main Stone: Coral
- Country/Region of Manufacture: United States