The auction for these 2 Hopi pendants recently sold for almost $1200 !?!?
What did they know that i didn’t?
Thanks.
The auction for these 2 Hopi pendants recently sold for almost $1200 !?!?
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@Steve nailed it; Michael Kabotie is one of the most talented, collectable, and coveted Hopi artists who’s work always goes for a premium. The first pendant is signed by him and typical of his famous style.I’m not sure who made the second pendant but it is nice too. Looks like the seller didn’t know what they had; they might have been surprised at the price as well.
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I suspect @OrbitOrange is correct about the seller not really knowing what they had, and that cost was high due to one of the pendants being made by Michael Kabotie. Here is what my book has about the other artist…
I have a pair of earrings made by his cousin, Raymie Naminga.
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I love that square pendant! I believe this seller was not familiar with Michael Kabotie. I have a couple friends who’d kill (
) to have a piece by Michael! Had the seller mentioned Kabotie’s name in the eBay description, I’m sure there would have been even more bidding.
Two thoughts always come to mind when thinking of Michael’s father Fred Kabotie. First is the fabulous murals Fred painted on the walls of the Desert View Watchtower at the Grand Canyon. Secondly is a fabulous book on his life. It’s a well written and informative book for anyone interested in the Hopi life and development of Hopi arts. Fred was involved with the Indian Arts and Crafts Board in Washington DC, and along with Paul Saufkie and others, started the Hopi Silvercraft Cooperative Guild:
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Oh, duh 
how could I forget about the murals! I just saw them in April!! Thank you for the reminder @Bmpdvm 
and for the book recommendation.
I think you’re right about the seller not knowing. They have the name down in the description that you have to click to expand, but they just call him “a Hopi artist,” which is quite the understatement.
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So true @Ziacat. Those murals are just fabulous. You’d enjoy the book, it’s told by Fred and is so interesting. He talks about his life and how they were treated at the indian schools; also about the development of the Hopi Guild, where Michael and so many greats learned their craft, and sold pieces. I wish it was still up and running like in its prime…it would be a great place to purchase true Hopi pieces! It was still open the first time I visited second Mesa 30ish years ago but was totally in the decline.
Hope you can find the book…with your interest Hopi culture and jewelry, it would be a great resource!
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That ebay link has incorrect things listed as being by Michael Kabotie. I didn’t go all the way through, but at the start there’s a bunch of Navajo looking rings that they say are his work.
The reason I wondered if the National Rarities posting didn’t understand what an important artist he is, is because they called him simply “a Hopi artist.” It seems like if they were wanting to get the most money, they would have said more about how famous he is. They described both artists the same way. So I guess they know who he is…but they don’t know WHO he is 
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Excuse me… I meant the initial label used to describe the item prior to selecting the item to get more detailed information.
Had the name Kabotie, or Lomawywesa, been in this initial discriptor, this would have garnered more attention (in my humble opinion).
Sorry to confuse the issue.
(And reading this again, I just realized the silver overlay pendants were described as “inlay pendents”)
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Here is a Pinterest board by Gregory Schaaf about Michael Kabotie and his work. Amazing.
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Wow, now thats some amazing work i would pay $1200 for!
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