DENVER – The collection of important Native American and Southwestern Art collector Marilyn Eber nearly tripled its presale estimate at Hindman, selling for $953,344. The November 3 auction saw enthusiastic bidding on 226 lots of artwork by contemporary Native American artists, modern and historic beadwork, modern pueblo pottery and Native American jewelry.

“This was such an exciting auction to work on and I am so happy that bidders were just as impressed with the collection as we were,” said Danica Farnand, Hindman’s Director of Native American, Prehistoric & Tribal Art. “You can tell how knowledgeable Mrs. Eber was as a collector in the breadth and quality of her collection. It was truly a joy to work with.”

As an important figure in the Denver and Southwest regional art scene, Eber was recognized as a fervent supporter of Native American Art. She spent nearly 50 years refining her knowledge and growing her collection, and cultivating relationships with everyone from emerging artists to prominent collectors to important institutions such as the Denver Art Museum, where she was an active member of the Friends of Native Arts as well and a docent emeritus. Eber built her outstanding knowledge of Native American Art beginning in the 1970s when she began attending shows at the Denver Merchandise Mart and visiting various flea markets, swap meets and fairs and trading posts. Initially focusing on pre-Historic pottery, Eber would expand her collection and knowledge base into historic and contemporary beadwork and pottery, amassing a renowned Native doll and cradle collection.

“Marilyn Eber was an amazing friend of Hindman and so many others in the Native American and Contemporary Art communities. She was generous with her knowledge and welcomed any opportunity to share her collection with other enthusiasts. Hindman was deeply honored to work with her family to bring Marilyn’s lifetime passion to market,” said Maron Hindman, Hindman’s Vice Chair.

The top lot of the auction was a portrait by Fritz Scholder (Luiseno, 1937-2005) entitled Indian with Blue Aura, which sold for $200,000. At 40in tall by 30in wide, the boldly colored portrait from 1967 sold for $166 per square inch, an auction record for the acclaimed artist. Hindman is no stranger to selling works by Scholder, having achieved five of the top 11 auction prices for the artist.

The hottest categories of the day were fine art and pottery by contemporary Native American artists. Another oil on canvas by Scholder, this one entitled Dancer Against Adobe, beat its presale estimate of $10,000-$15,000 selling for $68,750, giving Scholder the two highest sales prices of the day.

Other highlights included a Luis Jimenez (Hispanic-American, 1940-2006) sculpture entitled Border Crossing that sold for $68,750 against a presale estimate of $2,000-3,000; and a trio of Tony Da (San Ildefonso, 1940-2008) pottery jars, which sold for $56,250, $28,125, and $31,250 respectively.

The Eber Collection also included an impressive offering of 19th century Plains and Southwestern Native American material. The top lot of the category was a Kiowa beaded full-size cradle, with American flags, which sold for $28,125.

Other highlights included a Plateau beaded pictorial hide doll cradle, with doll that sold for $17,500 and a Navajo Hubble Revival Moki-style Germantown weaving, which sold for $11,875.

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