Robust and competitive bidding propelled Freeman’s two-day Native American Art sale to impressive results: $1.3 million in sales, 109-percent sold by value and a 92 percent sell-through rate.
Monumental Ojibwe Calumet pipe, with fine lead inlay burl bowl, late 18th/ early 19th century, 45½ in. Estimate: $20/30,000 SOLD: $57,600
Organizers of the April 10 sale were thrilled. “This sale brought together an exceptional range of historic and contemporary works by Native artists, reflecting both deep-rooted traditions and dynamic artistic innovation,” says Danica Farnand, senior specialist and head of the Native American art department at Freeman’s. “The strong results—and competitive bidding across categories—speak to the depth of interest from collectors.”
The sale brought together works from a variety of private consignors, as well as several major named collections that included the collections of Dr. Deane and Susan Penn, the Larry Ness Collection of Native American Photography, the Ronny and Doris Smithee Collection, and items from the Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum.
Margaret Tafoya (Santa Clara Pueblo, 1904-2001), monumental redware pottery jar with bear paw, 19¼ x 20¾ in. Estimate: $15/25,000 SOLD: $44,800
Navajo second-phase blanket, fourth quarter 19th century, handspun wool, woven with colors of dark brown, cream, yellow and carded red with 12 rectangular anchor points, 55½ x 58½ in. Estimate: $20/30,000 SOLD: $19,200
The top lot was a monumental Ojibwe Calumet pipe that dates back to the late 18th to early 19th century. The pipe sold for $57,000, nearly doubling its pre-sale high estimate of $30,000. Another top-selling lot was a redware pottery jar from Santa Clara potter Margaret Tafoya. The jar sold for $44,000, also nearly doubling the high estimate of $25,000.
Other key lots were a Navajo second-phase blanket from the late 19th century that sold for $19,000, a carved pottery jar by Tammy Garcia that sold for $16,000, and Preston Singletary’s glass sculpture Raven Steals the Sun that also sold for $16,000. —
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