American Indian & Ethnographic Art Up for Bid at Skinner

Skinner, Inc.will host an auction of American Indian and Ethnographic Art in its Boston gallery on Saturday, September 24th at 10 a.m. The sale will feature more than 600 lots and is highlighted by the collection of Dr. Frank T. Siebert, Jr. and one of the best collections of Navajo weavings Skinner has ever brought to auction.

The Dr. Frank T. Siebert Collection
Perhaps the most exciting element of the sale is the collection from Dr. Frank T. Siebert, Jr., a linguist and amateur anthropologist who collected over 350 Native American objects over his lifetime. This important collection, though including several fine Plains Indian items, emphasizes the East Coast, and especially the Penobscot area. Dr. Siebert acquired his collection mostly from friends and contacts in the villages he visited while working to document Algonquian languages. Highlighting the collection is a historic Penobscot peaked cap, lot 289, estimated at $40,000 to $60,000. This is one of only a handful of Penobscot women’s caps in existence, and most are in European or British museums. This particular cap is one of the nicest and earliest examples.

Other items from the Siebert collection include lot 276, a historic Bonaventure hatchet estimated at $8,000 to $12,000; a rare Wampum shell necklace, lot 277, valued at $20,000 to $30,000; a Northeast silver crown, lot 279, estimated at $10,000 to $15,000; a beaded cloth garter, c. late 18th/early 19th century, lot 284, estimated at $1,500 to $2,000; lot 286, a pair of man’s red stroud leggings, estimated at $8,000 to $12,000; and lot 287, a beaded cloth collar and cuffs, valued at $20,000 to $30,000.

Navajo Weavings
The sale is also graced with one of the best selections of Navajo weavings ever offered at a Skinner auction. Lots of note include 504, a classic Mexican saltillo serape, estimated at $5,000 to $7,000, and 529, a Southwest pictorial weaving valued at $600 to $800. Excellent examples of third phase chief’s blankets include lot 533, estimated at $4,000 to $6,000; a Southwest weaving, lot 534, estimated at $8,000 to $12,000; another Southwest weaving from Lorenzo D. Creel and descended through his family, lot 537, estimated at $2,500 to $3,500; and a Germantown weaving, lot 539, valued at $3,000 to $5,000. Two classic second phase chief’s blankets are expected to fetch high prices: lot 542 from the collection of Mrs. Luke C. Walker is estimated at $100,000 to $150,000, and lot 544 is valued at $40,000 to $60,000.

American Plains Indian Material
Plains Indian material being offered includes many pair of moccasins such as lot 187, a pair of Apache beaded man’s moccasins estimated at $1,500 to $2,000 and an Oto pair, lot 188, valued at $6,000 to $8,000. Another highlight of the sale is an early pipe bag from the third quarter of the 19 century, lot 194, with an estimated auction value of $10,000 to $15,000. There are also several nice small pouches and cases; two model cradles, lots 219 and 220, estimated at $6,000 to $8,000 and $4,000 to $6,000, respectfully, with the latter coming from the ex-collection of Mary Dahl; a fine pictorial vest, lot 230, estimated at $3,000 to $5,000; and a beautiful Lakota women’s yoke, lot 237, valued at $8,000 to $12,000.

Preview and Catalogue Information
Previews for the auction will be Thursday, September 22nd, 12 to 5 p.m., Friday, September 23rd, 12 to 7 p.m., and Saturday, September 24th, 8 to 9:30 a.m. Illustrated catalog #2563B is available by mail for $35 ($42 for foreign requests) from the subscription department at 508-970-3000 x3240. It is also available at the gallery for $32. Prices realized will be available at skinnerinc.com during and after the sale. Skinner's site also allows users to view all lots in the auctions, leave bids, order catalogs, and bid live in real-time through SkinnerLive!, Skinner’s live online bidding applet.