Belt buckle, artisanal, with radiant sun-face (mask) appliqué

Object/Artifact

Archive of Cuban Socialism

Name/Title

Belt buckle, artisanal, with radiant sun-face (mask) appliqué

Entry/Object ID

2025.11.17

Description

Rectangular belt buckle with slightly bowed face, made from a polished white-metal plate. The front bears a cast relief of a frontal, stern-faced mask — furrowed brow, broad nose, open mouth with teeth, and a beaded band across the forehead — set within a many-pointed radiating sunburst. The reverse has a hand-soldered belt-loop bar at one end and a bent-wire hoo

Context

Made by artisans with repurposed belt buckles, in the 1980s. Sold in stores as per people's testimony.

Acquisition

Accession

2025.11

Acquisition Method

Purchase

Materials

Material

Steel

Material Notes

Materials: White-metal plate (chrome-plated steel or polished nickel/stainless — unconfirmed); cast white-metal appliqué (pewter/lead-tin alloy or aluminum — unconfirmed); solder; rivets. Technique: Artisanal/handmade — dapped sheet-metal plate; separately cast figural appliqué riveted/soldered on; hand-soldered loop and hook.

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

Created By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Create Date

July 25, 2025

Updated By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Update Date

June 11, 2026