One of the most anticipated segments of Heritage Auctions’ upcoming Ethnographic: American Indian, Pre-Columbian and Tribal Art Signature Auction on December 2 is an offering of pottery from a prominent estate out of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. The collection makes up more than 200 lots that range from a few prehistoric items to work by prominent modern artists.
Navajo sandpainting rug, ca. 1925, native handspun wool and aniline dyes, 111 x 80" Estimate: $8/12,000
Delia Sullivan, the auction house’s ethnographic art specialist, says, “This exceptional collection includes pieces by many top potters, including Margaret Tafoya, Tony Da, Dextra Quotskuyva Nampeyo, Virgil Ortiz and many more. Demand for pottery like this is soaring, and this auction includes plenty of options for collectors at all levels.”
Barbara and Joseph Cerno (Acoma), polychrome jar, ca. 1993, clay and paint, 12½" Estimate: $2,5/3,500
Highlights include a polychrome jar with a beautiful shape and painted designs by Acoma potters Barbara and Joseph Cerno that estimates at $2,500 to $3,500 and a carved redware jar from around 1950 by Margaret Tafoya with an estimate of $2,000 to $3,000. There are many storyteller pieces available as well including one by Roxanne Swentzell estimated at $5,000 to $7,000 and three Cochiti polychrome storytellers by Seferina Ortiz and Spotted Fawn, from around 1980, that are grouped with an estimate of $1,000 to $1,500.
Outside the collection there are several Tony Da pieces hitting the market including a redware bear from around 1969 that is expected to sell between $15,000 and $25,000. A redware lidded jar adorned with turquoise by the artist has an estimate of $8,000 to $12,000, while a blackware Horno oven he created in around 1963 is set at $2,000 to $3,000.
Navajo sandpainting rug, ca. 1925, native handspun wool and aniline dyes, 111 x 80" Estimate: $8/12,000
A selection of around three dozen baskets, including Apache, Pomo and Navajo examples, are also notable in the sale. A large Navajo sandpainting rug from around 1925 will be hitting the block with an estimate of $8,000 to $12,000. A rare Crow beaded cloth cradleboard, from circa 1880, is one of the top Plains items in the sale with an estimate of $35,000 to $55,000.
Margaret Tafoya (Santa Clara, 1904-2001), carved redware jar, ca. 1950, clay and paint, 8½" Estimate: $2/3,000
“We have some beadwork made by Julia Jordan, who was a real master beadworker. She was born into Chief Red Cloud’s band,” says Sullivan. “The two pieces we have are coming from her family.” The first is a meticulously stitched Sioux beaded hide capelet (est. $8/12,000) that has quill-wrapped fringe, and the second is a beaded wool tablecloth (est. $6/8,000) that has beautiful birds with yellow wings and a star design at the center.
Sioux beaded hide capelet, hide, small glass and bras beads, dyed porcupine quills, cotton and polyester cloth and sinew, 23½" (excluding fringe) Estimate: $8/12,000
Along with the Native American art material, the sale will have approximately 590 lots that includes solid pre-Columbian offerings and strong tribal items.
December 2, 2021
Ethnographic Art: American Indian, Pre-Columbian and Tribal Art Signature Auction
Heritage Auctions, 2801 W. Airport Freeway, Dallas, TX 75261
(214) 528-3500, www.ha.com
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