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Cowan’s online American Indian Art Auction on April 10 sees 92 percent of lots sold.

On April 10 Cowan’s was slated to host its American Indian Art Auction in its Cincinnati salesroom, but with COVID-19 stay-at-home orders in effect, the auction house quickly pivoted to a successful online sale. Cowan’s is no stranger to online-only auctions, but this was their largest one to date and its interest with buyers showed top results. Nearly 900 bidders participated across four online platforms, by absentee bids or by phone, leading to 92 percent of the lots to find new buyers with a total of $943,675.Tlingit Chilkat blanket, 50 x 66" Estimate: $10/15,000 SOLD: $30,000“Our consignors placed a lot of trust in us to achieve the prices they’ve come to expect from us in a difficult environment, and I’m thrilled that we were able to come through for them today,” said Danica Farnand, Cowan’s director of American Indian art, at the time of the sale. “I also want to thank our bidders for sticking with us through a slower than usual pace. That level of resilience shows that the interest in the marketplace is just as high as it’s ever been.”

Sioux quilled hide shirt and leggings, 30 x 40" (shirt), 27½" (leggings) Estimate: $10/15,000 SOLD: $21,250All sorts of textiles and clothing were of particular interest in the sale with weavings, blankets, shirts and pants from tribes around the nation finding new homes. The day’s top earner was a Tlingit Chilkat blanket made from mountain goat wool that was dyed in blues, yellow, cream and a variety of browns. It doubled its high presale estimate of $15,000 when it sold for $30,000.

Navajo second phase woman’s chief’s blanket, 50½ x 37" Estimate: $10/15,000 SOLD: $20,000A collection of weavings from the John Andrews Collection of Native Jackets resonated with bidders, as four items sold for five figures. Two pieces by master weaver Bessie Manygoats were noteworthy, with one achieving $21,250 against an estimate of $15,000 to $20,000 and the other yielding $18,750 against $15,000 to $25,000. A Navajo second phase woman’s chief’s blanket sold for $20,000, while late classic Navajo dress panels brought $17,500.

Bessie Manygoats (Diné, ca. 1905-1953), Navajo Two Grey Hills weaving, 57½ x 85" Estimate: $15/20,000 SOLD: $21,250

A Sioux quilled hide shirt and leggings, which was once collected by Gen. Herbert Everett Tutherly, came in at $21,250, besting its estimate of $10,000 to $15,000. Another work collected by Tutherly was a Bannock sinew-backed bow with arrows, which sold for $15,000.

Other highlights of the sale were an Apsáalooke beaded mirror bag (est. $4/6,000) that sold for nearly four times its low estimate at $15,000; Cheyenne pictorial beaded hide moccasins that depicted thunderbirds that sold at $9,375; a Nez Perce child’s beaded hide cradle, which yielded $7,680; and a pottery jar attributed to Nampeyo that achieved $10,000.—

Top Ten Sales

Item • Low/High Estimate •Sold
Tlingit Chilkat blanket • $10/15,000 • $30,000
Sioux quilled hide shirt and leggings • $10/15,000 • $21,250
Navajo Two Grey Hills weaving by Bessie Manygoats • $15/20,000 • $21,250
Navajo second phase woman’s chief’s blanket/rug • $10/15,000 • $20,000
Cheyenne child’s beaded cradleboard • $25/30,000 • $19,200
Navajo Two Grey Hills weaving by Bessie Manygoats • $15/25,000 • $18,750
Late classic Navajo dress panels • $10/15,000 • $17,500
Bannock sinew-backed bow with arrows • $5/7,000 • $15,000
Apsáalooke (Crow) beaded mirror bag • $4/6,000 • $15,000
Lakota painted muslin panel • $6/8,000 • $11,250