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! Condition Vintage Excellent Size of Belt Buckle 2-3/4″ wide x 1-7/8″ tall / accepts up to 1-1/4″ belt Materials Used Sleeping Beauty Turquoise, Sterling Silver Weight in Grams 50.5 Hallmarks RLB, Sterling Artist’s Identity Robert and Bernice Leekya, Zuni Silversmiths
