BOSTON – Skinner’s next American Indian and Ethnographic Art sale will be held in the company’s Boston gallery on Saturday, Sept. 26, commencing at 10 a.m. Eastern Time. Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.com.
The sale features an eclectic array of material from more than 100 consignors, including both historical societies and private collections. The vast majority of the property is fresh to the market and in fine condition, with estimates reflecting current economic conditions.
The sale starts off with an interesting grouping of Pre-Columbian material highlighted by a feathered cocoa bag, c. 500-800 A.D. (lot 52, est. $300-400); a thousand-year-old poncho (lot 51, est. $350-450); a Peruvian balance beam, likely used for weighing spices (lot 56, est. $250-350); a stone and metal necklace, with crystal pendant (lot 43, est. $300-400); and a shell and silver necklace, with warrior amulet beads (lot 42, est. $300-400).
Other Pre-Columbian offerings of note include a carved-wood lime container (lot 49, est. $400-600); a Northern Argentinean carved stone bowl, c. 200 B.C.- 300 A.D., with two spotted feline forms looking up from the rim (lot 77, est. $4,000-6,000); a Huastec limestone figure (lot 17, est. $6,000-8,000); and two Mayan stucco panels, c. 550-950 A.D. (lot 16, est. $4,000-6,000).
The September sale features an extensive selection of tribal material. The show-stopping piece might likely be a Maori carved wood male figure from 19th century New Zealand (lot 203, est. $30,000-50,000). The figure comes from the collection of Rev. Alfred Fairbrother, by descendant of his family. Rev. Fairbrother was living in New Zealand on expedition with the Baptist church in the 1880s. The 1886 eruption of the volcano Mt. Tarawera destroyed the small Maori village and forced the minister to leave. At the time of his departure, the chief of the tribe bestowed upon him several hand-carved idols, tools and weapons, including the above reference lot.
Also from the Rev Fairbrother’s collection is a Maori Tiki carved wood figure (lot 195, est. $3,000-4,000). Additional tribal highlights include a large Polynesian carved wood treasure box (lot 196, est. $12,000-16,000); an Amazonian Tomoko mask (lot 123, est. $300-500); an Indonesian carved wood panel (lot 128, est. $900-1,200); a Hawaiian feathered lei from the last quarter of the 19th century (lot 184, est. $800-1,200); a Hawaiian poi bowl (lot 189, est. $8000-1,2000); and a nice selection of a dozen Aboriginal spears.
From Africa comes a carved stone head (lot 119, est. $6,000-8,000); a Boli figure (lot 120, est. $3,000-4,000); a ceremonial trough (lot 118, est. $5,000-7,000); a Yoruba carved wood helmet mask (lot 105, est. $7,000-9,000); and a carved wood drum, possibly Fang (lot 115, est. $400-600).
In the American Indian section, very fine examples of Plains material will be up for bid, highlighted by a beaded and quilled buffalo hide rifle scabbard (lot 240, est. $10,000-15,000); a beautiful beaded and quilled hide pipe bag from the late 19th century, beaded on one side with two American flags over a single bison, the other side with a single horse and geometric and cross devices (lot 233, est. $4,000-6,000); a rare carved wood triple-blade club (lot 234, est. $25,000-35,000); and an Indian pictograph book, c. pre-1881, entitled Indian Autographs (lot 245, est. $8,000-12,000). Among the American Indian offerings is a Northwest Coast carved wood raven rattle (lot 345, est. $6,000-8,000); a lovely pair of Northeast beaded and quilled cloth and hide moccasins (lot 256, est. $5,000-7,000); a Southwest late classic Moki blanket (lot 376, est. $8,000-12,000); and a Germantown weaving depicting a locomotive (lot 378, est. $600-800).
The sale also features one of the largest selections of Navajo jewelry to ever be offered in a Skinner American Indian sale. The jewelry comes from two collections and features an incredible selection of bracelets, as well as belts, rings, necklaces and pins. The majority of lots 262 to 309 are estimated between $200 on the low end and $2,000 at the high.
Finally, the sale rounds out with a fine variety of Kachina dolls, pottery and twined basketry.
For information on any item in this sale, call Skinner Inc. at 617-350-5400. View the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet through www.LiveAuctioneers.com.
ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE
