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Navajo rugs

Navajo rug among gems at Allard’s Nov. 11-12 auction

Tom Hoepf
Tom Hoepf
Navajo rugs
J.B. Moore Navajo rug, circa 1903-1911, designed and woven by ‘Meh-lo-to be Day-zhie’ (est. $10,000-$20,000). Allard Auctions image

 

MESA, Ariz. – An early 20th century Navajo rug from J.B. Moore, a San Ildefonso pottery plate crafted by Maria Martinez around the same time, a circa-1940 watercolor painting by Oscar Berninghaus, and a large Apache basket from the 1930s or ’40s are just a few of the expected top lots in this year’s Big Fall Phoenix auction planned for Nov. 11-12. Absentee and Internet live bidding is available through LiveAuctioneers.

Big Fall Phoenix is held every autumn by Allard Auctions Inc., based in Saint Ignatius, Montana. Offered will be more than 1,000 lots of American Indian artifacts, art and related collectibles. Start times are noon Nov. 11, and 11 a.m. Nov. 12 (Mountain time).

Featured will be a quality collection of Navajo rugs, original Native art and pottery from Santa Fe, beadwork items from the Bob Wills collection, Native art from a Chicago collection, items from the Williams Costume Co., over 100 baskets, over 100 pieces of beadwork, over 100 items of jewelry, over 50 pieces of pottery and more than 50 Northwest Coast and Eskimo items.

The historic J.B. Moore Navajo rug (above), circa 1903-1911, promises to be a standout lot of Session 2, with a robust estimate of $10,000-$20,000. It was designed and woven by “Meh-lo-to be Day-zhie,” from page 11 of Moore’s famous early 1900s catalog. This earlier version of the rug, indigo blue in color, measures 89 inches by 57 inches and is one of only a few still in existence.

The Maria Martinez plate, the Oscar Berninghaus painting and the Apache basket are all in the Session 1 catalog, on Nov. 11. Of those, the Martinez plate (below) carries the strongest estimate, at $8,000-$16,000. It’s a large and impressive black-on-black pottery plate, 14 inches in diameter with classic radiating feather design. It’s in very good condition and a museum-quality example.

 

Navajo rugs
Early 20th-century San Ildefonso pottery plate crafted by Maria Martinez, 14 inches in diameter (est. $8,000-$16,000). Allard Auctions image

 

The Oscar Berninghaus (American, 1874-1952) watercolor is titled Ranch Corals – New Mexico, written in hand, and “Ranch Near Taos, N.M.” written above the signature, housed in the original frame (est. $6,000-$12,000).

 

Navajo rugs
Circa 1940 watercolor painting by Oscar Berninghaus, titled ‘Ranch Corals – New Mexico,’ housed in the original frame (est. $6,000-$12,000). Allard Auctions image

 

Other highlights of Session 1 include an early 1900s men’s fancy Plateau beaded vest with the rare lapel and a fully beaded front, a velvet back and an inside lined with calico cloth, in very good condition (est. $4,000-$8,000); and a large Pointillist oil on canvas painting of the Grand Canyon, done in glorious color and large, measuring 45 inches by 25 inches (est. $2,000-$4,000).

 

Navajo rugs
Early 1900s fancy Plateau beaded vest with the rare lapel, with a fully beaded front, a velvet back and an inside lined with calico cloth (est. $4,000-$8,000). Allard Auctions image

 

The Apache basket is 18 inches by 18 inches, a wider-bodied woven basketry olla with repeating diamond blocks and vertical rows of arrows (est. $5,000-$10,000).

 

Navajo rugs
Large Apache basket from the 1930s or ’40s, a wider-bodied woven basketry olla with repeating diamond blocks and vertical rows of arrows (est. $5,000-$10,000). Allard Auctions image

 

Also offered will be old photos, bronzes, kachina dolls, trade beads, stone relics, Western relics, interesting antiques, collectors’ books, music items and over 60 box lots that will be sold at the end of each session and are an Allard Auctions favorite.

For details contact Allard Auction Inc. at 888-314-0343 or email info@allardauctions.com.

 

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