LOS ANGELES — For those that are longing for a sense of adventure, yet don’t want to leave the house, John Moran Auctioneers offers its Art of the American West Online auction on Tuesday, July 26, beginning at noon Pacific time. The 284-lot sale features a wide range of artwork, Native American ceramics, textiles and accessories. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.
The fine art selection contains masterful works depicting the American West in all its glory. A striking mixed media work from Tony Abeyta, The Navajo Yei Council of Gods, is estimated at $2,000-$4,000. Along with demonstrating Abeyta’s representation of the Navajo religious ceremony, it’s a reflection of his earlier subjects. In the image, multiple Yei gods stand facing the viewer, challenging them to participate.
Leading the collection of sculptures is Eight Plus Two, a 1977 patinated bronze by Sid Burns, estimated at $2,000-$4,000. This piece depicts the most dangerous eight seconds in sports, the impossibly long-seeming minimum span of time a rodeo rider must stay atop a bucking bronco to qualify to participate in the event.
A strong selection of pottery from various makers should prove difficult for collectors to resist. Included is a particularly fine collection of Santa Clara blackware, highlighted by the work of LuAnn Tafoya. One of her blackware pots appears with an estimate of $800-$1,200.
The July 26 sale also features a wide range of American Indian jewelry, including necklaces and rings in turquoise and silver. A perfect example is an Isleta cross necklace estimated at $800-$1,200. The Isleta cross refers to Isleta Pueblo in central New Mexico. Although the double bar cross is supposedly an influence from Moors and Spaniards, the design can also be compared to Pueblo symbols for the dragonfly. It’s an important creature for many Native American tribes, but most notably in the Southwest for its connection to water, with early depictions found on Hohokam and Mimbres pottery. A cross with two crossbars could resemble a dragonfly hovering in the air with outstretched wings, while the reflective silver mimics the gleam of a dragonfly’s wings.
Fans of Western belts will be presented with a variety of concho belts as well as tooled leather belts with fine Western-style buckles. One of the favorites is a large Navajo silver concho belt estimated at $1,000-$1,500.
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