Maine Antique Digest, March 2017

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Maine Antique Digest, March 2017 15-A
- AUCTION -
15-A
Bonhams, San Francisco, California
Native American Art Auction
by Alice Kaufman
Photos courtesy Bonhams
All prices include the buyer’s premium.
When asked about the state of the
market after the Native American
art auction at Bonhams in San
Francisco on December 5, 2016, department
director Ingmars Lindbergs replied, “I could
sell jewelry forever. Jewelry sales transcend
politics and economic concerns.” In the
weeks and months before the November
2016 presidential election, Lindbergs felt
there was “a hesitation to consign, not
knowing what the election would bring.”
After the election, there was no hesitation
on the part of jewelry buyers: “There was
a ninety percent sell-through rate. We had
something for everyone.”
However, said Lindbergs, neither pottery
(“a once robust, now stagnant market that
continues to adjust”) nor baskets (“lightly
represented”) had the allure of jewelry.
Textiles proved disappointing, and the
Northwest Coast market is “uneven.” The
highlight of the auction was the Madeline
Langworthy collection of Eskimo masks,
which “sold themselves” at impressive
prices.
Lindbergs worked alongside Jim Haas
for 15 years, and this was his first auction
after being named Haas’s successor as
department director. Among his challenges
were no assistant (although Haas helped with
cataloging and even worked the phones at the
auction) and a move to a new office at catalog
deadline time. Lindbergs is “confident” that
now a “smooth process” will be the reality.
Total sales came close to $1.3 million, with
post-auction sales expected.
The next Native American art auction
is scheduled for June 5 in San Francisco.
There are, said Lindbergs, “things on the
shelves already” for the auction. And those
rumors about the department relocating to
Los Angeles? “As of now, the department is
firmly entrenched in San Francisco.”
For more information, call (800) 223-2854
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The highlight of the
auction was the Madeline
Langworthy collection of
Eskimo masks.
Dartmouth Portrait #2 by Fritz Scholder (1937-2005), oil on
canvas, 40" x 30", estimated at $20,000/40,000, sold to a
private western collector on the phone for $52,500, a world
auction record price for Scholder. The same collector also
bought a painting by Kevin Red Star, jewelry, and pottery.
This collection of Navajo adornments, including seven pairs of
earrings, sold for $10,625 (est. $2000/3000) to a southern California
dealer in the room. The group, which Ingmars Lindbergs said had
been purchased by a collector from a number of reputable dealers
and scholars, included early earrings, and it brought a higher price
than any other group of jewelry offered in the auction.
This gold, turquoise, coral, and shell bracelet
by Charles Loloma (1921-1991) sold
for $27,500 (est. $20,000/40,000)
to a private midwestern
collector. Lindbergs said,
“We recently sold a similar
bracelet in New York for
$40,000.” Why the lower
price for this bracelet?
“One of the stones was
chipped.”
A Charles Loloma silver bracelet from a
Bay Area collection with a mosaic
of turquoise, ironwood, walrus
ivory, lapis, and coral sold to
a northwestern collector
for $18,750 (est.
$15,000/20,000).
A 9" long Eskimo mask, the first
that was offered from the Madeline
Langworthy collection, sold for $11,250
(est. $5000/7000) to a Canadian buyer
who was new to Lindbergs. It has black
pigment indicating hair and tattoo
markings.
An 8½" long Eskimo mask from the
Langworthy collection sold to an overseas
dealer for $11,875 (est. $4000/6000). In all,
the dealer bought three of the masks. This
mask has red and black tattoo markings
near the mouth.
This 9¾" long Eskimo mask with
wooden peg teeth sold for $30,000 (est.
$7000/10,000) to a Canadian dealer
who bought a total of 17 masks from
the Langworthy collection, all on the
telephone.
The overseas dealer who bought two other
masks paid $18,750 (est. $5000/7000) for this
9¾" long Eskimo mask.