Handforged Santa Belt Buckles

**Brian K** · 4th May 10, 09:15 PM

Mark, I'm not even a Santa and I think the North Pole design is, perhaps, the most beautiful belt buckle I've ever seen. Each time you post you give me new reasons to admire your artistry.

**SoulFyre777** · 4th May 10, 11:36 PM

Originally Posted by Brian K

Mark, I'm not even a Santa and I think the North Pole design is, perhaps, the most beautiful belt buckle I've ever seen. Each time you post you give me new reasons to admire your artistry.

Absolutely agree! Stunning work!

**tyger** · 5th May 10, 04:51 AM

Originally Posted by Brian K

Mark, I'm not even a Santa and I think the North Pole design is, perhaps, the most beautiful belt buckle I've ever seen. Each time you post you give me new reasons to admire your artistry.

Thanks to all for your compliments.

Brain, I too love the shadowbox setting of a stone/glass under the dome.

The North Pole design is a bird's eye view of the North Pole where Santa's abode sits in a clearing surrounded by conifers. The homplace glows with the radiance of Rudolph's nose, the activity from the workshop (complete with Forge, by the way), the smells of food from Mrs. Claus' kitchen, and the spirit of Christmas.

**Brian K** · 5th May 10, 01:55 PM

Originally Posted by tyger

Thanks to all for your compliments.

Brain, I too love the shadowbox setting of a stone/glass under the dome.

The North Pole design is a bird's eye view of the North Pole where Santa's abode sits in a clearing surrounded by conifers. The homplace glows with the radiance of Rudolph's nose, the activity from the workshop (complete with Forge, by the way), the smells of food from Mrs. Claus' kitchen, and the spirit of Christmas.

Mark, the thing I like the most about this design is that it's eminently adaptable. For example, how about replacing the trees with Templar or Teutonic crosses with the same red, or even an amethyst colored, glass in the middle. Masonic square and compasses about the edges with blue glass in the middle. The possibilities are endless and every one of them subtle, understated and elegant without losing the rusticity of the hand worked brass and copper. What a pleasure it would be to wear a work of art.

Keep it up,

Brian

**tyger** · 5th May 10, 02:12 PM

Originally Posted by Brian K

Mark, the thing I like the most about this design is that it's eminently adaptable. For example, how about replacing the trees with Templar or Teutonic crosses with the same red, or even an amethyst colored, glass in the middle. Masonic square and compasses about the edges with blue glass in the middle. The possibilities are endless and every one of them subtle, understated and elegant without losing the rusticity of the hand worked brass and copper. What a pleasure it would be to wear a work of art.

Keep it up,

Brian

Thanks, Brian. Yes, much of what you suggest is doable, given my limitations as a metalsmith, and of course the hand tools that are used in the process. I only use hand tools to make these items: hammers, punches, saw, drill and the like.

That reminds me that I have several cross design buckles that are for sale at the Scottish Tartans Museum Gift Shop, and you can see photographs of those buckles here in the artisan gallery:http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/tygerforge.htm

**Brian K** · 5th May 10, 02:16 PM

Originally Posted by tyger

Thanks, Brian. Yes, much of what you suggest is doable, given my limitations as a metalsmith, and of course the hand tools that are used in the process. I only use hand tools to make these items: hammers, punches, saw, drill and the like.

That reminds me that I have several cross design buckles that are for sale at the Scottish Tartans Museum Gift Shop, and you can see photographs of those buckles here in the artisan gallery:http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/tygerforge.htm

Ahhh, Mark, I have admired (coveted?) those buckles even before I was a member here. They're well out of my price range and, at any rate, I don't even have a kilt yet.....Someday, maybe

**tyger** · 6th May 10, 04:50 AM

Brian, your suggestion of cross and stone symbolism reminded me about a buckle that I made last year when I was first attempting the shadowbox setting of a stone under a dome:

Isle of Iona, copper on brass, marble from Isle of Iona Scotland, 3.5 inches diameter, copyright 2009

**Brian K** · 6th May 10, 04:57 AM

Originally Posted by tyger

Brian, your suggestion of cross and stone symbolism reminded me about a buckle that I made last year when I was first attempting the shadowbox setting of a stone under a dome:

Isle of Iona, copper on brass, marble from Isle of Iona Scotland, 3.5 inches diameter, copyright 2009

Now THAT'S nice! Someday, Mark...someday (of course, I need a kilt first!)

**Ryan Ross** · 6th May 10, 12:23 PM

Originally Posted by tyger

Brian, your suggestion of cross and stone symbolism reminded me about a buckle that I made last year when I was first attempting the shadowbox setting of a stone under a dome:

Isle of Iona, copper on brass, marble from Isle of Iona Scotland, 3.5 inches diameter, copyright 2009

Oooo... That's really cool!

Love the Christmas themed buckles, too!

My best friend's dad is a professional(and real-bearded) Santa, and I emailed him a link to this thread. One of your buckles would set his already very nice suit over the top!