Hi! This Kenneth Begay belt buckle is being sold by Shiprock Santa Fe for $5,800. It’s a beautiful piece, but that price seems really high.
I’m wondering if ya’ll think its a fair price and if not, what a reasonable price would be. Thank you!
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@user4478 Hi ~ that’s a good-looking belt buckle! Just curious… is Shiprock Santa Fe providing any info on the type of turquoise this is? Are they providing provenance for the buckle? (I’m not an appraiser so I can’t speak to the value of the buckle.) Thx.
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From a strictly technical point of view, the price is exorbitant. Other intangibles like collectibility, rarity, how sought after the maker’s work is factor in. At the end of the day, it’s worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it.
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I don’t know a lot about Kenneth Begay, but my understanding is that his work commands high prices, and it is highly sought out. However, I have also read that Shiprock Santa Fe prices can be pretty dang high. Maybe check out this link also.
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In my opinion, a good test is to look for what his items sold for at recent auctions.
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I agree. The price is based on the name, KennethBegay.
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Thanks for the replies. I forgot to add that they do say it is a Bisbee Turquoise Cabochon, which I understand adds to the value due to the rarity of that stone.
Other than that, they don’t provide any information besides the dimensions.
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You got a nice buckle. I was pretty certain it was Bisbee just from looking at it so I’m glad you mentioned that. Congratulations!
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Personally, I feel only you can answer that.
It’s a beautiful buckle, but not worth $5,800, to me. To someone that has the means, collects Kenneth’s works, and/or is incredibly passionate about belt buckles, the price means nothing.
At the risk of being laughed off of this forum, if money was of no concern, I would pay any price asked for an intact, completely original Phase One concho belt from the 1880’s, because I’m passionate about such things. Again, to me, there exist examples that I perceive as “priceless”, or “worth it”, whatever the price. But these examples may not mean much of anything to someone else. It’s all subjective, and if you can swing it, I say go for it!
One thing that is for certain is Shiprock’s reputation. As you well know, the gallery is very highly regarded and deeply respected. It’s owner, Jed Foutz, has curated one of the finest collections of early Navajo horse adornment, and his family has an exceedingly deep rooted history in Navajo Nation trading posts, going back five generations, to the 1870’s I believe.
Personally, (and I apply critical thinking to all decisions) I find Jed and his team beyond reproach, having worked with them numerous times. If a relationship is built and cultivated, you may find yourself pleasantly surprised at what they’ll offer it to you for!
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Well said, Aaron. Can’t think of anything else to add.
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Simply my two cents, Tom, thank you for your kind words.
As a member that shares the belt and buckle passion, I’d be curious to hear your opinion and thoughts, as they are both held in high regard and could be of value to @user4478.
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I agree with you. I also thought the cabachon was Bisbee turquoise. My angle with the 2 questions was to see if the gallery claimed it was “extremely rare” turquoise and if provenance linked the buckle to, let’s say, a celebrity. Perhaps those two things could’ve contributed to a high asking price.
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Agree with Aaron in all respects. Their pricing is made with keen awareness of the current market, their clientele, and how some highly regarded makers “do” in the market over time. They definitely like to work with customers to build a longterm relationship, which can mean some extra consideration on a given piece.
A high (or relatively high) retail price at Shiprock often turns out, in retrospect, to have been a good investment. This is definitely true of early bracelets, for example.
Wanted to add that Navajo Modernist jewelry and the topic of modernism in Native arts generally are really hot now, and KB/White Hogan are super important.
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I’m glad you both clarified this store. I looked back to a previous discussion from a couple years ago, and apparently I was remembering a discussion about another store, not Shiprock.
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Thanks Aaron, but you and everyone else nailed it. The buckle is undoubtedly a beautiful piece of silver work made by one of the best in the business at the time. As it is with any art form, name recognition, medium, aesthetic appeal, desirability, scarcity, etc. all adds value. In this case, the hallmark on the back is certainly one of its most valuable assets.
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