Sterling Condiment Spoon - Kenneth Begay & John Begay, Navajo - Midcentury Gem

Description

In Brief
Beautifully balanced, understated, midcentury modern design by Kenneth Begay (1913-77)
Top-notch silverwork by John Begay
Fabricated from heavy sterling silver, possibly an ingot (see below)
Exceptional weight for flatware
Masterfully executed stamp and chisel work; smoothly finished edges, free of dents or nicks
Condiment spoon is a perfect size for serving mustard, sauces, dips, chutneys, jams or olives
Age-appropriate patina, but shiny enough to look attractive with other flatware
Length is 3 7/8 inches (longer and wider than the more commonly seen Begay salt spoons)
Hallmarked with conjoined "JBegay," "Hand Made," and "Sterling"
There may be fewer people around the table this year, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't make it look inviting. This fine spoon will enhance the presentation of favorite foods, so they will look even more special. The first thing you will notice is the sleek, modernist lines. Then you'll feel the substantial heft. For its size, this is a heavy spoon. It was formed by hand, not in a mold, though it could have started out as a sterling ingot. It was shaped by hammering, and this increased its density. Notice that the end of the stem is convex and round. That shape flows into a slightly hollowed, tapered stem, also convex, and the bowl is, of course, concave. All of this shaping was achieved by hammering a single piece of silver. Nothing is soldered on. One shape transitions beautifully into the next. This was expert silversmithing to create a sculpture you can use.
The original design was created by famed Navajo silversmith Kenneth Begay, bench smith for the White Hogan shop in Scottsdale. Kenneth Begay's distinguished record is well known and readily available online, so we will omit the details here and simply say that he was such a fine designer and innovator that his work is now iconic and avidly collected. Flatware and hollowware were popular with the White Hogan's well heeled clientele, and Kenneth Begay designed pieces that included tea and coffee sets, trays, salad servers, salt spoons, iced tea spoons and related pieces. All were hand-fabricated as described above. A distinctive feature sometimes seen in his spoons is a slightly offset or angled bowl, which balances the opposing orientation of the curled tip at the other end. The design may also have been intended to facilitate right-handed use, but this lefty can state that the spoon works perfectly in the opposite direction, too.
As mentioned above, this spoon is larger than the Begay salt spoons, at 3 7/8 inches long, with a 1 1/8-inch-wide bowl. As the photos show, it will fit nicely in a small sauce dish, a bowl or tray of olives, or a jam jar. (The dishes in the photos are not included in this listing.) Kenneth Begay's salt spoons are often seen on eBay, and elsewhere. In addition to being smaller, they have perforated, partially covered bowls specifically designed for dispensing powdered or granulated seasonings. But for comparison purposes, the handle designs are very similar to the ones on this spoon, thus confirming the origin of the design.
The four parallel lines were a favorite Begay motif, used on many different White Hogan pieces, including jewelry. In fact, the design may predate the White Hogan's hallmark because some Kenneth Begay pieces employing this design, which bear his own hallmark, lack a stamp for the shop. The curled motif at the top end of the spoon is another Begay favorite and is derived from a painted, circular pattern often found on prehistoric Hohokam pottery.
The spoon in this listing was designed by Kenneth and made in the same way--and to the same high standard--as his own pieces, but is hallmarked with a conjoined JBegay, for John Begay, who also worked at the White Hogan, and the expert design and workmanship of his own pieces speak for themselves. There are other J. Begays, but for comparison, see photo 7, showing the spoon's hallmark next to a John Begay ring made at the White Hogan and carrying its hallmark. (The ring is not included in this listing.) The styles of the four parallel lines and the curled motif are slightly different from Kenneth Begay's, as would be expected. In fact, Kenneth Begay's own pieces sometimes show similar variations.
A condiment spoon by either smith doesn't come up for sale often, probably because few people who have one want to sell it. Whether made by Kenneth or John Begay, such a spoon is a superb example of midcentury Navajo design and silversmithing of the highest order. It's functional art for the dining table.
Note:
Someone asked if this was a baby spoon. We have seen Kenneth Begay baby spoons from White Hogan. The bowls were rounder and not as elongated as on this one. Some of the salt spoons also have angled bowls, and they are definitely not for a baby's use!
The Fine Print--Very Important
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A
lso Important:
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