Bonhams’ recent sale of Modern & Historic Native of American Art, held December 8, achieved a total of $736,795. “Overall, we were pleased with the results of the December 8 auction. While the sell-through rate was lower than the other two Native American auctions (in May and August) that Bonhams has held since the start of the pandemic, I attribute that primarily to a greater preponderance of jewelry in this particular auction, as opposed to any significant slowing down of the market under the protracted lockdown,” says Bonhams’ director of Native American art, Ingmārs Lindbergs.
Charles Loloma (Hopi, 1921-1991), a silver cuff inlaid with irregularly sized turquoise, coral and fossilized ivory elements, 63/8” (circumference) Estimate: $5/8,000 SOLD: $14,025The modern art section, he says, performed exceptionally well, with 23 out of 25 lots sold, and making up five of the top 10 lots. These included a 1991 John Nieto painting, Taos Pueblo Elder, that sold for $14,025 against an estimate of $12,000 to $18,000; Nieto’s 1999 painting Buffalo in the Snow more than tripled its high estimate of $5,000 when it sold for $17,813; and two Allan Houser bronzes, At the Spring for $12,750, and Hunter’s Prayer for $10,837.
An early Plateau man’s beaded shirt constructed in a two-hide poncho style with open sides, 49 x 25” Estimate: $80/100,000 SOLD: $225,313
“The modern jewelry [also] fared well,” Lindbergs continues, “with two Charles Loloma bracelets making the top 10 lots sold [for works by Native American artists] and with overall higher prices per lot and sell-through rate in comparison to the historic jewelry.” One of the Loloma pieces, a silver cuff stunningly inlaid with turquoise, coral and fossilized ivory, achieved $14,025.
A Great Lakes or Eastern Plains calumet pipe, bowl length 5”, stem length 421/8” Estimate: $40/60,000 SOLD: $60,313“The top two lots of the sale were both rare historical examples of Plains or Plateau Indian material culture with an early Plateau man’s beaded shirt, lot 190, selling for $225,313 on a pre-sale estimate of $80,000 to $100,000,” says Lindbergs. “A Great Lakes or Eastern Plains calumet pipe with figural bowl, sold for $60,312, and another calumet pipe, identified as Western Great Lakes or Eastern Plains, fetched $17,812.”
A Great Lakes or Eastern Plains calumet pipe (stem), bowl length 5”, stem length 421/8” Estimate: $40/60,000 SOLD: $60,313
Bonhams will hold its next Native American auction on February 25, with a focus on historic material. The sale will be held in conjunction with the auction house’s inaugural Western Art auction. Collectors can expect the next sale of modern Native American art on April 29.
Top Ten Sales:
Bonhams, Modern & Historic Native American Art, December 8, 2020 (including buyer’s premium)
ITEM • LOW/HIGH est. • SOLD
1. An early Plateau man’s beaded shirt • $80/100,000 • $225,313
2. A Great Lakes or Eastern Plains calumet pipe • $40/60,000 • $60,313
3. A Francisco Zúñiga stone sculpture, Desnudo Ovoide… • $40/60,000 • $40,313
4. A John Nieto painting, Buffalo in the Snow, 1999 • $3/5,000 • $17,813
5. Western Great Lakes or Eastern Plains calumet pipe • $15/20,000 • $17,813
6. Navajo Late Classic Third Phase Chief’s blanket • $20/30,000 • $15,300
7. A John Nieto painting, Taos Pueblo Elder, 1991 • $12/18,000 • $14,025
8. A Charles Loloma bracelet • $5/8,000 • $14,025
9. An Allan Houser bronze, At the Spring, 1978 • $5/7,000 • $12,750
10. An Allan Houser bronze, Hunter’s Prayer, 1980 • $8/12,000 • $10,838
Powered by Froala Editor
