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| nrhunt.com *American Tradition Meets Traditional Art |
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| Note: | ~ Prices below are for belt buckle (set) only. |
| ~ Buckle widths refer to inside buckle opening. |
The release of the 2010 edition is an exciting event at the studio. It is the culmination of several years of experimenting with different ways of handcrafting buckles, combining materials, and last, but not least, capturing the best possible detail of the fine hand engraving in the cast pieces. These buckle sets are Western Elegance at its best, destined to become true classics.
The Bighorn buckle is made of 4 pieces of silver (and gold), assembled using tiny jeweler's screws, while the San Isabel buckle is one solid piece. The back of both buckles and the Bighorn tip are also beautifully engraved. All the parts to the buckle sets are cast in solid sterling silver (and 14K gold) from Neil's original hand engraved masters. They are hand finished and hand signed by Neil.
Golfers ~ White Belt Straps Now Available
| Note: | ~ Prices below are for belt buckle (set) only. |
| ~ Buckle widths refer to inside buckle opening. |
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River Ranger #2007-2 Quail, 4-pc Ranger Belt Buckle Set
1" (25mm), Solid Sterling Silver w/Optional 14K Gold Overlay As shown US $ 790.- (Strap not included) |
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This year's edition is in the theme "river". It was a recurring theme during 2006 and 2007, and so it was
a natural concept. Although, very different, both the trophy style
There are two version of the Yellowstone buckle. One has a band of leather across the center - stained to match
your belt strap unless you specify otherwise, the other has Mokume-gane.
The trout is avaialable in sterling silver or 14K gold.
The 4-piece River Ranger set is available with a silver or 14K gold Quail.
All the metal parts to the buckle (sets) except the Mokume-gane, are lost wax cast in solid sterling silver (and 14K gold) from Neil's fine,
original hand engraved masters. They are hand finished and hand signed by Neil.
Golfers ~ White Belt Straps Now Available
| Note: | ~ Prices below are for belt buckle (set) only. |
| ~ Buckle widths refer to inside buckle opening. |
Optional
Sterling Silver Keepers & Tip and Silver or 14K Gold Setter
There is only one actual buckle (set) style this year. The available centerpieces are Woodcock, Quail, Turkey, and Mallard. The belt buckle is assembled from 5 pieces of silver (and gold) using tiny jeweler's screws. The oval centerpiece is sandwiched between the body of the buckle and the backplate. All the parts to the buckle (set) are cast in solid sterling silver (and 14K gold) from Neil's original hand engraved masters. It is hand finished and hand signed by the artisan. This is truly a unique buckle (set), very reminiscent of a classic, engraved shotgun.
Golfers ~ White Belt Straps Now Available
| Note: | ~ Prices below are for belt buckle (set) only. |
| ~ Buckle widths refer to inside buckle opening. |
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Chickasaw #2004-3 Quail, 3-pc Ranger Belt Buckle Set
1" (25mm) wide in Sterling Silver US $ 790.- (Strap not included) |
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The 2004 edition of reproduced, hand engraved original silver and gold belt buckles was inspired by beautifully patterned birds, and influenced by a long history of bird art. The Ruffed Grouse on the Superior buckle are in a darker forest setting, while the Dakota Prairie buckle set with the Ringneck Pheasants has the more open feeling of prairie grasses. The seven Bobwhite Quail escaping the underbrush into the negative space of the sky on the Chickasaw, is a little whimsical, owing its stylization to Asian art.
Golfers ~ White Belt Straps Now Available
| Note: | ~ Prices below are for belt buckle (set) only. |
| ~ Buckle widths refer to inside buckle opening. |
Golfers ~ White Belt Straps Now Available
These beautiful, collectible silver belt buckles are inspired by, and named for, North American National Parks and wild-lands. They are meticulously reproduced in solid sterling silver from Neil's original hand-engraved pieces made specifically for lost wax casting.
The essence of tradition in the arts can be seen in 2,000 years of continually evolving Acanthus decoration, from Greek columns, to English shotguns, and now to American silver belt buckles. These traditional belt buckles and ranger sets with old world gun-style engraving remind us that the New West is still firmly rooted in the Old West.
Each year several new belt buckles and sets will be created to best represent the body of work of Neil's original hand-engraved belt buckle sets from that year. Just as printmaking makes fine art accessible to more collectors, lost wax casting also makes for affordable reproductions.
Each belt buckle (set) is marked with the edition-year and style number, as well as production-year, and is hand-signed by Neil R. Hunt.
In the 1800s the American West was settled by Europeans, who were also the first to wear silver buckle tip sets. These belt buckle sets came to be known as Ranger Sets, after the legendary Texas Rangers. At that time engraving was directly from, or inspired by, European traditions in design and technique. Engraving in silver and engraving on guns were diverging into distinctly different styles. This distinction, as well as the popularity of ranger sets, was accentuated when Hollywood defined the "cowboy look" in the 1920s and -30s. This Western, or Bright-Cut, engraving became the standard for belt buckle engraving and has been the de facto method and look... until now.
Neil's belt buckle sets are engraved in the Gun-Style rather than the Western style, and are finding popularity for their sophisticated look and attractive designs. His hand-engraved original belt buckles are highly valued by aficionados.
One-Of-a-Kind and Custom Hand Engraved Silver & Gold Belt Buckles & Other Pieces are also available.
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