Edward Curtis Portfolios and Acoma Pottery Big Sellers in Cowan's September American Indian and West Cowan's September 9 American Indian and Western Art Auction
SALE: 9/9/11 10 AM EDT
PREVIEW: 9/8/11 12 PM - 6 PM, 9/9/11 8 AM - 10 AM EDT
Cowan's Auctions, Cincinnati, Ohio
Editors: For High Resolution Photographs, please contact Katie Monroe.
CINCINNATI – Cowan's is pleased to announce that its September 9 American Indian and Western Art Auction sale was a success.
"I thought we had a wonderful sale. The room was full of energy and many of the lots exceeded my expectations. I am very happy with the results.
-Danica Fernand, Director, American Indian Art
648 bidders from thirteen countries competed for 423 lots. The auction brought in a sales total of $612,426.88 with buyers premium. Most of the winning bidders bid online or by phone (32[%] and 30[%], respectively); 20[%] bid on the floor and 18[%] by absentee. There was an 81[%] sell-through rate with 27[%] of the lots selling above estimate. The biggest seller was the Edward Curtis North American Indians Portfolio Volume 1: The Apache. The Jicarillas. The Navaho which hammered down at $28,200.00. Items from a collection of Acoma pottery were also highlights in the sale.
Several Edward Curtis portfolios sold well at the auction. Estimated at $10,000/15,000, the Edward Curtis North American Indians Portfolio Volume 1: The Apache. The Jicarillas. The Navaho brought in $28,200.00.
The Edward Curtis North American Indians Portfolio Volume 6: The Piegan. The Cheyenne. The Arapaho. hammered down at $15,862.00, selling above its estimate of $10,000/15,000.
The Edward Curtis Orotone Vanishing Race photograph estimated at $5,000/7,000 sold for $11,750. This lot is signed and in the original arts and crafts bronzed gesso and wood batwing frame with Curtis's descriptive label included.
An Acoma Olla brought in $15,862.00 exceeding its estimate of $5,000/7,000. This late 19th century globular form has a short neck and a deeply indented base with two major friezes consisting of densely decorated hatched geometrics separated by a more open design of pinwheels and curlicues.
Another Acoma Olla estimated at $2,500/3,500 brought in an impressive $10,575.00.
Another pottery high seller was a Laguna Olla that was estimated at $5,000/7,000 and hammered down at $11,162.50.
A Mungo Martin (1881-1962) Kwakiutl Carved and Painted Totem Pole estimated for $6,000/8,000 sold for $14,100.00.
A painting of Quen-Chow-A-Moqui by Elbridge Ayer Burbank (Illinois, 1858-1949) sold for $12,337.50 having been estimated at $6,000/8,000.
A Tlingit Polychrome Carved Totem Pole sold for $12,377.50 exceeding its estimate of $8,000/10,000. Modeled after Chief Shakes' totem and carved of cedar with a hollowed back, this pole depicts six figures painted in green, black, and red. It is dated to the first quarter 20th century and is mounted on a wooden base.
An Aleta Tsosie Navajo Pictorial Weaving estimated at $5,000/5,500 sold for $5,287.50. The weaving, titled Squaw Dance, is finely woven with the subjects depicting the only ceremony where men and women dance together. It is composed of 52 individual figures, 15 paired figures, 18 horse, sheep and cows.
