On December 12, Bonhams’ will offer a stunning collection of Native American objects in the Native American Art Auction that the auction notes “will celebrate the keen curatorial visions of several important private collectors, showcasing a broad range of historic Native American material culture assembled over many decades.”
Attributed to Albert Edward Edenshaw (1812-1894), Haida raven rattle, carved rattle painted in black, blue and red hues, 4¼ x 12” Estimate: $60/80,000
Among the offerings is a fascinating selection of material from the William Dana Lippman collection of 19th-century Pacific Northwest masterworks, including masks, rattles frontlets and bowls.
The items include a Haida raven rattle attributed to Albert Edward Edenshaw, who lived in the 19th century. “[It is a] finely carved raven rattle painted in black, blue and red hues, with a reclining humanoid/bear connected via a lengthy tongue to a kingfisher,” the auction house explains about the piece. “The underside [has] a double-sided formline bird face holding a second humanoid/bear figure in its mouth.” The piece is estimated at $60,000 to $80,000.
Lucy Telles (Mono Lake Paiute/Southern Sierra Miwok, ca. 1870/1885-1955/6), extremely finely made basket Estimate: $100/150,000
The two mask highlights from the collection are a Kwakwaka’wakw (Kwakiutl) Sun Mask (est. $60/80,000) and a second Kwakwaka’wakw (Kwakiutl) mask (est. $100/150,000), this one from around 1820 to 1840. Both masks are noteworthy for their striking quality and unique facial features including arched eyebrows, a round nose, and detailed noses and lips.
Elsewhere in the sale, coming from the Bay Area of California, will be a magnificent basket by Mono Lake Paiute/Southern Sierra Miwok weaver Lucy Telles, who was active in the first half of the 20th century. The basket was made in 1926 and part of the legendary Ella M. Cain Collection sold by Bonhams in 2005. The Telles basket is estimated at $100,000 to $150,000.
Kwakwaka’wakw (Kwakiutl) mask, ca. 1820-1840, carved and polychrome painted, 13¾ x 11½” Estimate: $100/150,000
Switching coasts, a collector from the East Coast will be offering a superb classic Navajo man’s wearing blanket woven in a second phase chief’s pattern. The weaving is estimated at $300,000 to $400,000.
The sale will take place on December 12, with bidding starting at noon.
December 12, 2023
Bonhams' Native American Art Auction
7601 W. Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, 90046
(323) 850-7500, www.bonhams.com
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