All Eyes on Santa Fe

Santa Fe Art Market brings major Native American artwork to bidders during its popular August sale.

In mid-August, as visitors descended into the heart of New Mexico for the centennial celebration of Santa Fe Indian Market, Santa Fe Art Auction was at the ready with its two-session American Indian Art sale on August 12 and 13. The auction not only realized more than $700,000 in sales, but also had a sell-through rate of 92 percent. Santo Domingo Five-Strand Natural Turquoise Necklace with Jaclas, ca. 1980s, 20” Estimate: $1,500/2,500 SOLD: $6,710

“It was really robust out there [in Santa Fe] and it was very encouraging,” says Gillian Blitch, president and CEO of Santa Fe Art Auction. “We talked to artists and dealers and everyone was busy. We were incredibly busy, so it was nice to see so much attention in Santa Fe. We were very encouraged by the strength of the market, and in the continuing interest on the part of collectors to invest in quality art.”

Kathleen Wall (Jemez Pueblo), Large Koshare Fishing with Watermelon on Stone Stand, fired clay, pigments, corn husk and fabric with stone stand, 20 x 12 x 14” Estimate: $1,500/2,500 SOLD: $4,148

Top lots included a number of pieces of Native American jewelry, many either by Charles Loloma or from the Georgia and Charles Loloma Collection. One piece that did well was a Pueblo-style two-strand turquoise tab necklace with gold ends that has been attributed to Loloma. The 12-inch necklace had a high estimate of $1,200, but sold well above that at $7,930.

Attributed to Charles Loloma (Hopi, 1921-1991), Pueblo-Style Two-Strand Turquoise Tab Necklace with Gold Ends, natural turquoise and gold, 12½” Estimate: $800/1,200 SOLD: $7,930

Other jewelry pieces included a 30-strand coral necklace (est. $2/4,000) that sold for $6,710, a Santo Domingo five-strand turquoise necklace (est. $1,500/2,500) that sold for $6,710 and two works by Kenneth Begay, a silver and turquoise ketoh (est. $3/5,000) that sold for $9,150 and a silver ring with turquoise (est. $1,200/1,800) that finished at $7,930.

Haida Argillite Pipe, ca. 1890, carved argillite, 3 x 8¾ x 11/8” Estimate: $4/6,000 SOLD: $7,930

Kenneth Begay (Diné [Navajo], 1913-1977), Silver Ring with Turquoise Stone, silver and turquoise, 1 x 3⁄4 x 3⁄4” Estimate: $1,200/1,800 SOLD: $7,930

Outside of the jewelry category were two pottery lots: a Tesuque polychrome water jar from the 1940s (est. $1/2,000) that sold for $3,660, and an Acoma olla pot from the 1930s (est. $800/1,200) that sold for $2,928. Kathleen Wall’s sculptural pottery work Large Koshare Fishing with Watermelon on Stone Stand had a high estimate of $2,500 and sold well over that for $4,148.

Tesuque Polychrome Water Jar, ca. 1940-1950, fired clay, pigment, 9¼ x 11” Estimate: $1/2,000 SOLD: $3,660

Other noteworthy lots were two Carl Woodring (Wa-Sa-Ba Shinga) gouache works on paper: End of the Trail (est. $1/2,000) that sold for $2,318 and Untitled (Warrior on Horseback) (est. $1,500/2,500) that sold for $4,880. A Haida argillite pipe from around 1890 sold at $7,930, clearing its $6,000 high estimate.