Birdstones from fabled Townsend collection bring record prices
Birdstone found in Ottawa County, Mich., in 1926, 3.6 inches, sold for a record $130,000. T&T Archaeological Consulting and Brent Fuchs Auctioneering image.
The Townsend Collection is regarded as the single most significant collection of North American prehistoric artifacts ever assembled. The collection boasts excellent provenance and many artifacts carry storied collector histories. The highlights of the sale were the 54 birdstones from the Townsend collection. Most were documented in his monumental literary work, Birdstones of the North American Indian (1959).
Birdstones are small sculptured stone objects made by Native Americans thousands of years ago. They are rare objects, dating several thousand years in age. Birdstone shapes resemble “birds” and are usually drilled for unknown purposes. The exact use of Birdstones remains a mystery, despite many years of speculation and theory.
Tony Putty of T&T Archaeological Consulting, reports that it was the most successful auction in their 10-year history. With bid prices totaling $1.3 million, it is believed this was the highest grossing prehistoric artifact auction ever to be held. Two Birdstones in the auction brought $130,000 each, making them the highest selling birdstones ever offered to the public. The auctioneer, Brent Fuchs, presided over an energetic sale, with seven birdstones individually bringing a hammer price of $50,000 or more.
All reported bid prices are not inclusive of any buyer’s premium. More information on the auction, including sale results, can be found online at tonyputtyartifacts.com.
Click here to view the fully illustrated catalog for this sale, complete with prices realized.
ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE
Birdstone found in Ottawa County, Mich., in 1926, 3.6 inches, sold for a record $130,000. T&T Archaeological Consulting and Brent Fuchs Auctioneering image.
Birdstone found in Van Buren County, Mich., in 1920, 3.6 inches, sold for a record $130,000. T&T Archaeological Consulting and Brent Fuchs Auctioneering image.
Birdstone found in Gratiot County, Mich., in 1925, 3 inches. Price realized: $110,000. T&T Archaeological Consulting and Brent Fuchs Auctioneering image.
Bust birdstone found in Madison County, Ill., in 1917, 2.5 inches. Price realized: $55,000. T&T Archaeological Consulting and Brent Fuchs Auctioneering image.
Quartz hourglass bannerstone, Yell County, Ark., 3 inches. Price realized: $32,500. T&T Archaeological Consulting and Brent Fuchs Auctioneering image.
Hopewell spear, 8 inches, Kalamazoo, Mich. Price realized: $9,500. T&T Archaeological Consulting and Brent Fuchs Auctioneering image.
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