Few jewelers are as revered and celebrated as Charles Loloma, the Hopi artist known for his incredible stone inlay, magnificent use of materials and his modern design sensibility. His works are growing more and more precious as new generations continue to discover the master and his work. Important works from the Charles and Georgia Loloma art collection—some from Charles himself, some from artists he admired and collected—will be available to bidders June 24 and 25 at the Santa Fe Art Auction’s Summer Signature Sale. The sale is expected to be around 500 lots, with nearly half coming from the Loloma Collection.
David Bradley (Chippewa), The Santa Fe Trail Revisited, 1987, acrylic on canvas, 301/8 x 361/8 x 15/8” Estimate: $10/15,000
Charles Loloma (Hopi, 1921-1991), gold and stone inlay cuff bracelet, 18-karat yellow gold, coral, lapis and turquoise, 2¼ x 27/8 x ½” Estimate: Available By Request
“Charles Loloma was the most legendary Native jeweler of the 20th century and revolutionized the concept of Native American Jewelry,” says Gillian Blitch, president and CEO of Santa Fe Art Auction. “Charles and Georgia were also passionate and thoughtful collectors who really understood not just Native art, but form and color, and the American Craft movement.”
Charles Loloma (Hopi, 1921-1991), gold and turquoise, lapis and coral mosaic cuff bracelet, 14-karat yellow gold, turquoise, coral, and lapis, 2 x 27/8 x 1¼” Estimate: Available By Request
Charles Loloma (Hopi, 1921-1991), ironwood cuff bracelet, silver, gold, turquoise, iron wood, lapis, coral and ivory, 3 x 3¾ x ¾” Estimate: Available By Request
The summer sale will feature an expansive collection from Georgia and Charles Loloma, who met at an art show in Denver in the late 1970s. After they were married, it was Georgia who encouraged Charles to use higher-quality stones and materials to make his pieces stand out amid the crowded scene within Native American jewelry. During the 1980s, Loloma was one of the most in-demand jewelers in the Southwest. His star would have continued to rise if not for a car accident in 1986 that would slow his work. Though he survived the initial accident, he would never truly recuperate, and he died in 1991. “After Charles passed away in 1991, Georgia continued to live in Santa Fe, New Mexico, steadily pursuing their love of collecting,” Blitch explains. “When Georgia passed away this past Christmas, the auction house was asked to represent the couple’s entire art collection, including Georgia’s personal jewelry collection.”
Shonto Begay (Diné), Days of Hard Lines II, 2005, acrylic on canvas, 24 x 30” Estimate: $8/12,000
Fritz Scholder (Luiseño, 1937-2005), Indian with Tomahawk, 1975, color lithograph, 30 x 22¼” Estimate: $1,5/2,500
Manfred Susunkewa (Hopi), kachina, carved cottonwood, natural pigments, feathers, 2½ x 13¾ x 27/8” Estimate: Available By Request
The relationship with Santa Fe Art Auction actually started much earlier, when Georgia had asked Blitch to help downsize the collection before moving to San Diego, California, from Santa Fe. “I started working with Georgia before the move to San Diego, and her and I actually became quite close friends as she invited me into her home to look at the items she and Charles had collected,” Blitch says. “What’s remarkable about the collection is they had a tasteful and yet very eclectic eye, and also just a wonderfully diverse collection. They knew everyone: Lloyd Kiva New, Fritz Scholder, Kevin Red Star…so they had great examples from some of the best. And then after Charles died, Georgia never stopped supporting the Native American art community in Santa Fe.”
Harry Fonseca (Nisenan/Maidu, 1946-2006), Pow Wow Club, 1980, acrylic, glitter and foil on canvas, 48 x 36” Estimate: $10/15,000
Harry Fonseca (Nisenan/Maidu, 1946-2006), Coyote Koshare #6, 1982, acrylic and glitter on canvas, 40 x 30” Estimate: $8/12,000
Within the collection being offered in June are dozens of pieces of Loloma jewelry, including important pieces that show his superb use of materials and his ability to create intricate inlay designs. Jewelry pieces include silver and gold rings and bracelets, tufa-cast pendants, cuffs with astonishing arrangements of turquoise inlay and other materials that include diamonds, turquoise, emerald, ironwood, lapis and coral.
Roxanne Swentzell (Santa Clara), Untitled (Figure With Cola), fired clay, glazes, pigment, 22½ x 11 x 16” Estimate: $8/12,000
Maria Martinez (San Idelfonso, 1887-1980), Blackware Seed Pot, fired clay, 6 x 7” Estimate: $8/12,000
The collection also includes nearly 250 katsinas, many by the esteemed katsina carver Manfred Susunkewa, whose work was on display all around the Loloma house. It is believed the Lolomas had the largest collection of Susunkewa carvings and more than 75 are expected to be in the sale. Elsewhere in the collection are paintings and prints, including two acrylic pieces by Nisenan-Maidu painter Harry Fonseca, Pow Wow Club and Coyote Koshare #6; a Fritz Scholder lithograph titled Indian with Tomahawk; two works by David Bradley, including The Santa Fe Trail Revisited, an interior scene showing seven diverse subjects; and two marvelous car-themed pieces by Navajo painter Shonto Begay, Days of Hard Lines II and Untitled (Too Much Light). Charles Loloma painted works will also be available, including his colored pencil Avachhoya Kachina, featuring a “corn” kachina in full regalia, and an untitled work depicting colorful, geometric designs. Loloma was often inspired and uplifted by his background and Hopi heritage, always maintaining a reverence and deep appreciation.
Anita Fields (Osage/Muscogee), Purse, 2000, ceramic and metal chain, 8 x 7¾ x 3¼” Estimate: Available By Request
Joining the painted works and jewelry in the sale are a number of fascinating three-dimensional objects and sculptures. One highlight is Allan Houser’s Apache Mask, a bronze from 1976, while another is Roxanne Swentzell’s Untitled (Figure with Cola), which shows a small figure in traditional clothing seated and holding a red Coca-Cola can. The sale will also offer an Anita Fields purse made of ceramic and metal chain, as well as a Maria Martinez blackwear pot.
Allan Houser (Chiricahua Apache, 1914-1994), Apache Mask, 1976, bronze, 147/8 x 5¼ x 7½” Estimate: Available By Request
Charles Loloma (Hopi, 1921-1991), gold and diamond signature pin, yellow gold, diamond, 1½ x 5/8” Estimate: Available By Request
The collection is distinguished because of the variety of the artwork, but also the caliber of the artists. Houser, Swentzell, Martinez, Begay, Bradley…these are master artists who are iconic in their respective fields, so it would make sense that Loloma, widely recognized as one of the top jewelers in the Southwest, would be drawn to them.
Charles Loloma (Hopi, 1921-1991), Kachina, colored pencil on paper, 12¾ x 9” Estimate: Available By Request
“This collection is epic in scope and quality,” says Blitch, “and we are just thrilled to be bringing it to the auction house. This sale will be live and we look forward to having collectors from around the country join us for this once-in-a-lifetime offering.”
June 24-25, 2022
Santa Fe Art Auction’s Signature Summer Sale
Santa Fe Art Auction, 932 Railfan Road, Santa Fe, NM 87505
(505) 954-5858, www.santafeartauction.com
Powered by Froala Editor
