| Press Contact: | Catherine Riedell | Douglas Deihl, Director |
| Director of Marketing | American Indian & Ethnographic Art | |
| Skinner, Inc | Skinner, Inc | |
|
978-779-6341, x231 |
978-779-6241 x254 |
SKINNER'S AMERICAN INDIAN AUCTION
EXCEEDS ALL EXPECTATIONS
Sale Totals $1.1 Million; Exceeds High Estimate by 40%
Marie and Julian Southwest Polychrome Pottery Plate Sells for $99,500
BOSTON, Mass. - October 8, 2003 – www.skinnerinc.com - Skinner's September 20th auction of American Indian and Ethnographic Art in Boston was an extraordinary success, selling 95% of the lots offered, grossing $1,106,349, and topping all sales estimates by over 40%. A crowd of bidders packed the gallery for the sale, which drew dozens of absentee bids and required a full bank of telephone bidders. Leading the selection was a Marie and Julian San Ildefonso polychrome pottery plate that shattered its pre-sale estimate of $6/8,000, selling for a commanding $99,500. Offerings performed well overall, from the pre-Columbian and African objects early in the auction to the Native American art and artifacts that comprised the greater portion of the sale.
"Skinner's last two American Indian auctions were incredibly strong, but this latest auction surpassed all our expectations. It was by far the best auction of this material that Skinner has ever held and we're very pleased with the results," remarked department director Douglas Deihl.
Pre-Columbian Objects
The auction opened with an extensive single-owner collection of pre-Columbian artifacts, most of which originated in present day Mexico. Of particular interest was a Moche polychrome portrait vessel dating to c. 200-500 A.D., which easily exceeded its conservative pre-sale estimate of $1,5/2,000 and sold for an impressive $18,800. Also selling high were a Zapotec Monte Alban seated figural urn made c. 550-950 A.D. that reached $8,225, and a Mayan stucco head and a large Vera Cruz smiling figure from the same period, which sold for $7,638 each. Two Colima pottery dogs and a Nayarit seated couple in the Ixlan del Rio style, each made c. 100 B.C. to 250 A.D., brought $4,700 and $4,348, respectively.
African Art
Highlighting the approximately fifty lots of African and tribal art was a large carved wood Yoruba helmet mask attributed to the famous carver, Agbonbiofe of Efon-Alaye. The piece invited great interest from bidders, ultimately selling far above expectations at $18,800. This portion of the sale also featured 30 African lots de-accessioned from the Brooklyn Museum of Art, with highlights including a Kongo carved wood and metal circumcision knife that sold for $2,350, an early 20th century Kongo carved wood Janus figure that realized $1,880, and an early 20th century Dogon carved wood seated couple that went for $1,645. Notable lots from other consignors featured a Maori jade pendant that reached $5,581, a Tonga club that garnered $4,994, and a late 19th century diminutive Kongo carved ivory depicting six figures in relief that sold for $2,350.
Native American and Western Artifacts
Leading the fine selection of Plains material was a remarkable parfleche container from the Ernst Anspach Collection that sold for more than three times its estimate at $38,775. A Northern Lakota rifle scabbard de-accessioned from a Northeast historical society reached $17,625, a pair of Blackfeet moccasins $15,275, and a Lakota beaded hide cradle $7,050. An effigy pipe stem with four carved animal heads also sold for $7,050.
Highlighting the Woodlands material from the eastern United States, a rare late 18th century quilled pouch garnered $19,975, a ball-headed club descended in a New England Native American family sold for $9,400, and an unusually fine bandolier strap from the Southeast reached $7,638. From the Northwest Coast, a polychrome carved wood forehead mask collected by Howells Frechette realized $31,725, five times its conservative estimate of $4/6,000, and a polychrome carved wood buoy sailed past its $250/350 estimate selling for $5,875.
An extremely rare 1850s California half-seat saddle by one of the first Los Angeles saddle makers highlighted the Southwestern material. The piece, possibly the only known surviving example of this maker's work, was marked on both sides of the fork "Foy, Los Angeles," and marked on the cantle "S.C. Foy, Makers, Los Angeles Cal." It sold for $34,075.
Pottery, Basketry, and Weavings
The extraordinary pottery in the auction was topped by the Marie and Julian polychrome pottery plate. Additional highlights included a black-on-black Maria bowl that reached $8,813, and a rare Marie and Julian painted pottery bowl that realized $8,225. An exceptional painted Acoma olla from the last quarter of the 19th century bearing remnants of its original label more than doubled expectations at $27,025, and a fine painted black and white Acoma olla made c. 1900 overreached its estimate selling for $4,994.
The large selection of basketry included examples from all areas. Among the highlights were a large late 19th century Mission coiled basketry bowl that soared to $17,625, and a Yokuts polychrome coiled jar collected by William H. Sawyer 1902-1908 that reached $12,925. A rare early 20th century large Apache coiled olla with a design of quadrupeds and crosses, also collected by Sawyer, garnered the same amount, and a mid-19th century coiled bowl, possibly Chumash, went for $11,457.
Weavings featured a fine mid-19th century Classic Navajo woman's dress half that realized $12,925, and from the last quarter of the 19th century, a Navajo weaving with a woman's "second phase" blanket pattern that brought $14,100. A Southwest Germantown weaving in the style of a Moki blanket sold for $10,575.
Colt Single-Action Army Revolvers
Attracting great interest was the Robert M. Quay collection of approximately 20 Colt single-action army revolvers, acquired over the second half of the last century. Many of the guns were factory or New York engraved, and most were sold accompanied by factory letters. Highlights included a revolver, serial no. 82087, stamped "D.F.C." on the frame, which quickly climbed to $21,150, and another, serial no. 89240, with a Bridgeport rig, that sold high at $24,675. Another example, serial no. 121656, with the back strap engraved "W R Phelps City Marshall", reached $15,275, and two others, serial nos. 102926 and 130928, sold for $12,925 and $11,163 respectively.
Skinner Supports the American Indian College Fund
Consignments are now being accepted for Skinner's next auction of American Indian
Art and Ethnographic Art, to be held in Boston on May 22, 2004. Additionally,
as a major partner and strong supporter of the American Indian College Fund,
Skinner welcomes consignments dedicated as donations to the AICF. Proceeds from
the sale of these items will be donated by Skinner to the AICF. For more information,
contact Douglas Deihl at 978-779-6241, or via email at AmericanIndian@skinnerinc.com.
Note to Editors: Photos available upon request. Contact Catherine Riedel at 978-779-6241 x 231.
About Skinner:With galleries in Boston and Bolton, Mass., Skinner is a full-service auctioneer and appraiser of antiques and fine art. Regularly seen on the PBS series, Antiques Roadshow, Skinner is one of the nation’s leading auction houses. Skinner conducts auctions year-round and has received world-record prices for many pieces sold at auction. Departments include American Furniture & Decorative Arts, Paintings & Prints, English & Continental Furniture & Decorations, Fine Ceramics, Jewelry, Couture, 20th Century Furniture & Decorative Arts, Fine Musical Instruments, Asian Art, Fine Judaica, Toys, Dolls & Collectibles, Science & Technology, Oriental Rugs & Carpets, American Indian & Ethnographica, and Discovery. For more information on upcoming auctions, visit Skinner’s web site www.skinnerinc.com.