A new perspective on a classic accessory, “Art of the Buckle” (Gibbs Smith, $19.99, Jacketless Hardcover, 144 pages, 330 color photographs, July 2013, ISBN 978-1-4236-3218-4) presents a widespread display of an enormous variety of unique buckles, showing how cowboy fashion is keeping with the times.
Mary Emmerling and Jim Arndt team up for their fifth book celebrating the art of things people love to collect. Here, they bring us fabulous belt buckles from vintage collectibles, trophy buckles, beaded and bejeweled varieties, ranger sets, and classy contemporary designs, all celebrating the fascinations with beautiful buckle art. Cowboys and Indians, arrows, horses and longhorns aplenty, sweet hearts, and plenty of other icons decorate these fashionable pieces, and it wouldn't be complete without a nod to the artists who created them.
Buckles today are the creations of numerous talented artists, jewelers, silversmiths, bead workers and leather workers. No matter your style, there is a buckle artist who can create your dream piece. So, tip your hat and enjoy the best the West has to offer in a collection of one of the hottest fashion accessories around, buckles!
Jim Arndt is the author of “How to be a Cowboy” and co-author with Mary Emmerling of four other books. He has also co-authored several cowboy boot books. He lives in Santa Fe.
Mary Emmerling is the best-selling author of more than 25 books. She was the creative director of Country Home Magazine for ten years. She hosted HGTV's Country at Home show, worked as the director-in-chief of her own Mary Emmerling Country Magazine for the New York Times. She now lives in Santa Fe. She co-authored “Art of the Heart,” “Art of the Cross,” and “Art of Turquoise” with Jim Arndt.