New law restricts export of sacred Native American items from US

Pictured are drawings from an 1894 anthropological book on katchina or katsina figures, created by the native Pueblo people of the Southwestern United States, who regard them as spiritually important. On December 21, President Joe Biden signed the Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act (aka the STOP Act) into law, which prohibits the export of sacred Native American items, among other notable measures. Image courtesy of LiveAuctioneers
Pictured are drawings from an 1894 anthropological book on katchina or katsina figures, created by the native Pueblo people of the Southwestern United States, who regard them as spiritually important. On December 21, President Joe Biden signed the Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act (aka the STOP Act) into law, which prohibits the export of sacred Native American items, among other notable measures. Image courtesy of LiveAuctioneers
These drawings are from Jesse Walter Fewkes’ 1894 anthropological book on katchina or katsina figures created by the native Pueblo people of the Southwestern United States, who regard them as spiritually important. On December 21, President Joe Biden signed the Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act (aka the STOP Act) into law, which prohibits the export of sacred Native American items, among other cultural measures. Public domain image

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) – Federal penalties have increased under a newly signed law intended to protect the cultural patrimony of Native American tribes, immediately making some crimes a felony and doubling the prison time for anyone convicted of multiple offenses. President Joe Biden signed the Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act on Dec. 21, a bill that had been introduced since 2016. Along with stiffer penalties, it prohibits the export of sacred Native American items from the U.S. and creates a certification process to distinguish art from sacred items.

Continue reading

University of Kansas returning Native American remains

Spooner Hall, part of the Lawrence campus of the University of Kansas, photographed in May 2018. In October, university officials stated online that it has begun the process of returning Native American remains, artefacts and sacred objects found in museum collections located in Spooner Hall and other university buildings. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, photo credit Gen. Quon. Shared under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.
Spooner Hall, part of the Lawrence campus of the University of Kansas, photographed in May 2018. In October, university officials stated online that it has begun the process of returning Native American remains, artefacts and sacred objects found in museum collections located in Spooner Hall and other university buildings. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, photo credit Gen. Quon. Shared under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.
Spooner Hall, part of the Lawrence campus of the University of Kansas, photographed in May 2018. In October, university officials stated online that it has begun the process of returning Native American remains, artefacts and sacred objects found in museum collections located in Spooner Hall and other university buildings. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, photo credit Gen. Quon. Shared under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) – The University of Kansas has begun the process of returning Native American remains and other sacred objects that were recently discovered in its museum collections, the university said.

Continue reading

Hindman hits $1.7M with Part II of Forrest Fenn Native American collection

Southern Cheyenne painted hide shield, $53,125
Left, Southern Cheyenne painted hide shield from the September 8 Forrest Fenn collection sale, $53,125; right, Algonquian ball club from the September 9 Native American Art sale, $31,250
Left, Southern Cheyenne painted hide shield from the September 8 Forrest Fenn collection sale, $53,125; right, Algonquian ball club from the September 9 Native American Art sale, $31,250

CINCINNATI – Hindman kicked off September with two successful days of Native American Art sales, totaling more than $1.7 million. The series commenced with Part II of the Lifetime Collection of Forrest Fenn, continuing the strong results achieved during Part I in the spring. The following day, Session I of Native American Art brought equal enthusiasm, highlighted by the 19th century objects of the Great Lakes and Eastern Woodlands from the collection of Robert Streett of St. Louis and Navajo and Mexican textiles from the collection of Warren Ehrlich.

Continue reading

Hindman hosts Part II of Forrest Fenn’s collection, Sept. 8

Southern Cheyenne painted hide shield, est. $40,000-$60,000
Southern Cheyenne painted hide shield, est. $40,000-$60,000
Southern Cheyenne painted hide shield, est. $40,000-$60,000

CINCINNATI – Building on the momentum from the sale of Part I, Hindman will present Part II of the collection of a fabled figure, Forrest Fenn, on Thursday, September 8. Through a stunning 172-lot selection of Native American art, The Lifetime Collection of Forrest Fenn, Part II will spotlight Fenn’s passion for Native American art, highlighted by his celebrated collection of strike-a-light bags and beadwork. A spectacular selection of dolls and monumentally-sized pottery and baskets are also among highly anticipated lots. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.

Continue reading

Forrest Fenn’s Native American collection was a crowd-pleaser at Hindman

Pueblo buffalo hide shield, $27,500
Pueblo buffalo hide shield, $27,500
Pueblo buffalo hide shield, $27,500

CINCINNATI – Legendary Santa Fe, New Mexico dealer Forrest Fenn’s collection was met with energetic bidding in Hindman Auctions’ June 9 sale, achieving $876,313 and a robust 95 percent sell-through rate. Bidders were clearly excited by this distinguished collection, with beadwork and Plains material leading the offering.

Continue reading

Holabird’s 3-day December auction made dreams come true

Ansel Adams, ‘Moon and Half Dome,’ $9,687
Ansel Adams, ‘Moon and Half Dome,’ $9,687

RENO, Nev. – A Wells Fargo Express Chinese Western directory from 1878 sold for $13,750, while signed and numbered photographs by Ansel Adams and tokens from the glory days of America’s Gold Rush era all did well in Holabird Western Americana Collections’ December Dreams: Premier Americana Auction held December 17-19.

Continue reading

Eber Native American & Southwestern collection earns nearly $1M at Hindman

Fritz Scholder, ‘Indian with Blue Aura,’ $200,000
Fritz Scholder, ‘Indian with Blue Aura,’ $200,000
Fritz Scholder, ‘Indian with Blue Aura,’ $200,000

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.

Continue reading