For more than 50 years, Florida collectors Keith and Sara Reeves meticulously curated their collection of Native American artwork. Their goal, while researching and hunting for artwork, was to expand and raise the quality of the items included. The grouping, being offered during Heritage Auction’s Ethnographic Art: American Indian, Pre-Columbian and Tribal Auction featuring the I.S.K. Reeves V and Sara W. Reeves Collection on May 29, primarily focuses on Plains, Northwest Coast and Eskimo material, but includes works from all across the country. Each item comes with a tag that indicates it is from the collection.
Southern Cheyenne ledger drawing by Howling Wolf, 23¼ x 14" Estimate: $15/25,000
“The collection makes up about half of the sale and will be in its own catalog that will start the sale,” says Delia Sullivan, Heritage’s ethnographic art specialist.
Included will be about a dozen ledger drawings including one by Southern Cheyenne artist Howling Wolf that is estimated to sell between $15,000 and $25,000. After becoming imprisoned at Fort Marion in St. Augustine, Florida, the warrior became known for his ledger artwork. This piece, according to Sullivan, is a rather large scale at over 23 by 14 inches. “It’s very colorful and vivid,” she adds.
Cheyenne beaded hide baby carrier, ca. 1900, hide, glass seed beads, sinew, wood and brass tacks, 43½" Estimate: $7/10,000
“We have four or five tail bags, three or four strike-a-lights, wonderful parfleche—at least half a dozen of those—moccasins, tobacco bags and teepee bags,” Sullivan shares. “Within the Northwest Coast material are a wonderful Shaman’s crown and about half a dozen etched bracelets where some are modern and some are old.”
Sioux quilled hide jacket belonging to Chief Rain-in-the-Face, hide, natural and dyed porcupine quills. Estimate: $20/30,000
A highlight of the Eskimo material are two pieces by jewelry maker Denise Wallace, a brooch (est. $1/1,500) and a ring (est. $800/1,200) that feature figures whose masks open to reveal carved ivory underneath. Other noteworthy items include a Nez Perce or Blackfeet bear warrior society shirt (est. $20/30,000); a circa 1900 Cheyenne beaded hide baby carrier (est. $7/10,000); and three Germantown weavings.
Moving outside of the collection, buyers will find a rare Crow beaded cloth cradleboard (est. $60/80,000), circa 1880, that comes to market from a collection in Canada. Also available is a Sioux quilled hide jacket that once belonged to Chief Rain-In-The-Face, which is expected to sell between $20,000 and $30,000. “We know that it was his because there’s a famous cabinet card of him wearing the coat,” Sullivan explains. “You can match it up to the quillwork on the front of the coat.”
Rare Crow beaded cloth cradleboard, ca. 1880, wood board, canvas, glass seed beads, hide, red wool trade cloth, sinew and thread, 39" Estimate: $60/80,000
Rounding out the auction are 24 Navajo weavings from one collector “that are in fabulous condition,” Sullivan says. “They range from regional to chief to Teec Nos Pos to wearing blankets.”
For any updates on the sale, visit the auction website.
May 29, 2020
Ethnographic Art: American Indian, Pre-Columbian and Tribal Auction featuring the I.S.K. Reeves V and Sara W. Reeves Collection
Heritage Auctions - Design District Showroom
1518 Slocum Street, Dallas, TX 75207
(214) 528-3500, www.ha.com
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