For art dealer Brian Lebel, there are many kinds of art collectors. And no two are ever identical. To prove his point, he offers up any one of his sales or events from the last several decades. Some collectors show up for fine art paintings and sculptures. Others for the historic Native American material. Others for the parade saddles or bits and spurs. Even more show up looking for combinations of materials: Navajo weavings and Acoma pottery, or Edward Borein etchings and vintage saddle equipment, or Colt firearms and beaded gauntlets. 

Wasco / Chinook elk- tooth dress, 40½” Estimate: $10/15,000

 

Mid-century Navajo textile, 61 x 122” Estimate: $10/15,000

 

To Lebel, it’s all art, which is why he offers all of it. 

“Art brings strange bedfellows together sometimes, and it’s surprising because you’ll never know who you’ll meet,” he says. “The only common ingredient in the mixture is their love of art.”

Lebel’s Old West Events and Morphy Auctions are returning to Santa Fe, New Mexico, for the Old West Show & Auction on June 21 and 22 at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center. The two-part event will have a dealer show with many of the top experts in their respective fields and then also a live auction. 

Beaded Nez Perce dress, 40” Estimate: $8/12,000

 

Tlingit octopus bag, 21 x 11¾” 

 

Like many auction owners these days, Lebel has been closely watching other Western sales and also talking to top collectors. While there is certainly some anxiety in the larger economy, Western art has shown a great deal of resilience. “I’m seeing a lot of strength in the market and I think that’s because people want something tangible. They want something they can hold and look at and own. And art is what they are looking for, which is why we’re seeing a lot of stability in the art market,” he says. “I firmly believe that by offering great material, the buyers will be there. They won’t pass up a chance to own something. Many times you only get one chance, so you have to take it when it comes up.”

The Old West Show & Auction kicks off on June 21 with the dealer show from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. After the show closes for the day, action moves to the nearby auction room, where more than 450 lots will be offered in a live sale. Bidding starts at 5 p.m. The following day, June 22, the dealer show returns from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. An early session for VIP ticketholders is available on June 20 for collectors who want first dibs on all the material being offered by dealers.

Dentalium Plateau breast plate and earrings, 27½” Estimate: $6/9,000

 

Lakota patriotic beaded doctor’s bag, ca. 1880, 12 x 6 x 7” Estimate: $4/5,000

 

Lebel has long held a show in Santa Fe, and tells collectors they can not only visit his show and sale, but they also have easy access to many of the great art destinations around the Santa Fe Plaza. This includes world-class museums, art galleries, hotels and restaurants. All of them are within walking distance to each other and the convention center, which makes for a culture-rich experience to attendees. 

Auction highlights include two Native American dresses: a Wasco / Chinook elk-tooth dress (est. $10/15,000) and a beaded Nez Perce dress (est. $8/12,000). Other wearable items include a dentalium Plateau breast plate and earrings, estimated at $6,000 to $9,000. Two beaded bags will also be available: a colorful Tlingit octopus bag (est. $6/9,000) and a Lakota patriotic beaded doctor’s bag from around the 1880s (est. $4/5,000). 

Crow or Blackfeet beaded cap, 8 x 10 x 5” Estimate: $2,500/3,500

 

Navajo turquoise- mounted Crockett spurs, 1¼” band with a 2¼” shank and 2¼” rowell Estimate: $2/3,000 

 

A pair of Navajo Crockett spurs with turquoise will be offered with estimates of $2,000 to $3,000. Another Navajo lot is a mid-century textile measuring 122 inches long. The weaving is estimated at $10,000 to $15,000.

To learn about more auction lots, visit Old West Events website or Morphy Auctions to see a preview and see the show schedule. —

June 21-22, 2025
Old West Show & Auction
Santa Fe Community Convention Center
201 W. Marcy Street, Santa Fe, NM 87501
(765) 225-1239, www.oldwestevents.com, www.morphyauctions.com

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