Thanksgiving Indian Art

Tradition Rings - For over 40 years, Garth’s annual Thanksgiving weekend auction has been a tradition of fine Americana. This year, the addition of wonderful American Indian items drew interest and appreciation for the work of the earliest observers of the holiday. In all, 138 lots realized a total of $232,961.00; with an average lot value of $1,688.13.
The first lot of Friday evening’s session, a late classic Navajo Serape blanket in red, blue, pale green, orange and cream, began a strong group of weavings with a bang when it commanded an impressive $31,050. Several lots later, a Navajo transitional eyedazzler weaving in amazingly original condition, with vivid red, yellow, green and purple with a central band flanked by large serrated zigzags and crosses, dazzled buyers to a high bid of $14,950. Throughout the evening, weavings remained strong, as a Navajo transitional eyedazzler in red, orange, black, pale purple and cream woven in an overall diamond design with two figures and crosses in the center realized $6,037.50. A Navajo pictorial weaving with a central diamond containing a human figure and birds flew away for a high bid of $5,750 and a Navajo third phase weaving in red, black and cream woven in a modified saltillo design purchased from the Sara Bess Collection, sold for $5,520.
Enthusiasm remained high as beadwork, pottery and baskets crossed the block. A Sioux beaded medical bag decorated with geometric designs, American flags, a cow, a horse and a large cross sold for $10,350. A circa 1870-1880 Sioux beaded vest in vibrant red, green, yellow, medium blue, deep blue, pink, rust and metallic gold beads in geometric designs brought a fashionable $3,737.50 and a pair of Southern Plains beaded leggings realized $2,530.
A Hopi seed jar attributed to Nampeyo and decorated in black and red fetched $10,925 and a rare pear-shaped Polacca figural canteen with a molded face at the top and loop handles decorated in orange and brown with a katsina on the front and a turtle on the back went for a high bid of $9,200. A large Apache coiled basketry olla decorated with zigzags, crosses and figures standing and on horseback left the block for $8,050 and a finely woven boat-form Pomo basket with quail topknot-type decoration and adorned with shell discs and red feathers sold for $4,315.50.
When asked to what he attributes the overall success of the American Indian items, Garth’s President, Jeff Jeffers said, “No doubt about it, the quality and depth of the offerings brought bidders far and wide. Garth’s has had a long history of success with American Indian items, although in recent years we have not had the opportunity to offer such a large number of items at once. Highly targeted marketing efforts got the message out to our database of collectors and dealers; combining that with some unique direct marketing techniques clearly paid off for our consignors.”
All prices include a 15% buyer’s premium. For more information on this auction, or upcoming auctions, call (740) 362-4771 or visit www.garths.com.