Auction PR Publicity Announcements News and Information
Auction PR Publicity Announcements News and Information

Rare Tomahawk Pipe Leads Selkirk’s Auction of American Indian and Ethnographic Artifacts Representing Multiple Cultures

Selkirk Auctioneers & Appraisers will host an auction of American Indian and Ethnographic Artifacts, with Persian and Oriental rugs, at 10 a.m. on March 11, 2017, at its gallery in St. Louis’ Central West End. Spanning the pre-historic to modern eras, more than 350 lots of Native American items are to be offered, including rare items from a number of private collections. ?Furthermore, 100+ lots of Ethnographic artifacts and 100+ lots of Persian and non-tribal oriental rugs will be sold. This specialty auction builds on the interest which brought strong sales prices for several items offered in Selkirk’s October 2016 Eclectic Auction in which a rare Tlingit dagger sold for $9,000 and a prehistoric Native American pottery effigy bottle brought $8,040.

The rare presentation tomahawk pipe estimated at $25,000-35,000, commemorates the Treaty of Fort Harmar.
A certain highlight of the auction will be the rare presentation tomahawk pipe with a spontoon-style iron axe-head. It is numbered “103” on the haft and inscribed indistinctly “Pipe Tomahawk belonged to/ Chief Cornplanter Seneca Indians./ Ft. Harmer(sic) Treaty, 1789./ ….. collection thence/ to J.G. Braecklein.” Estimated at $25,000-35,000, the piece commemorates the Treaty of Fort Harmar which was signed with the intention to address outstanding issues remaining following the Treaty of Fort Stanwix, as well as the Treaty of Fort McIntosh in 1785. The treaty was signed on January 9, 1789, between Arthur St. Clair, the Governor of the Northwest Territory and representatives of the Iroquois Six Nations, including the Seneca Nation.

Additionally, a single-owner library of books of approximately 40 lots, with titles dating to 1885, on topics such as Native American history, culture and religion. The North American Indians: Being Letters and Notes on Their Manners, Customs, and Conditions, Written During Eight Years’ Travel Amongst the Wildest Tribes of Indians in North America, 1832 – 1839 by George Catlin is complete in two (2) volumes. Published by Leary, Stuart and Company, Philadelphia, 1913, the hardcovers are particularly nice due to the gilded illustrations and lettering (estimate $400-600).

Art with a Native American theme includes a large assortment of lithographs by R.C. Gorman, and gouache on paper by Nick Eggenhofer. Of the 20 distinctive and vibrant lots by Gorman to be sold, a favorite of the Selkirk staff is a lithograph titled “Woman with Poppies” (estimate $200-500). A gouache of Native Americans traversing the Plains represents the specialty of Nick Eggenhofer (Bavarian/American, 1897-1985), who was known for western story illustration action scenes of Indians, cowboys and outlaws. The 12.5″h. 17.5″w. is estimated at $6,000-9,000.

The action of the West is also represented in Bob Grieves(American, b. 1922) bronze, “Against the Odds”. Signed and dated 1985, numbered 9/10, the bronze depicts a frontiersmen in a canoe on white water. The bronze (approximately 17″h. 21″w. 15″d.) is mounted upon the original revolving base and is estimated at $4,000-6,000. “Hunter’s Prayer” by Allan Houser(American, 1914-1994) is another stunning modern bronze being offered. Signed, dated, and numbered “17/20″, the figure of a Native American chief wearing a headdress and holding a steer skull is a stately 18.5″high and is expected to fetch $9,000-11,000.

A rare and stunning sterling and turquoise scorpion squash blossom necklace is a standout among many beautiful and expertly crafted pieces of jewelry featured in the auction. The double stranded 24″ necklace displays nine pendants of scorpions gripping turquoise stones with the central pendant being of the largest proportion at 2.75″h. 2.25″w. The estimate is $1,000-2,000.

Of the 100+ lots of Ethnographic materials, a Songye power figure from the Congo dates to the early 20th century. Constructed of wood, stone, cloth, metal, and nails, it depicts a rider with inlaid eyes pierced with dozens of nails atop a small horse. Measuring 28″high, the figure is accompanied by 2015 paperwork from Frances Aronson Fine Art and estimated to sell for $1,500-3,000. A much smaller pair of 4” high Peruvian figures from the Nazca Valley area date to the 15th/16th century. The male and female carved bone figures both have hands to stomach, the female form being pregnant (estimate $750-1,500).

Other cultures are represented in the auction including a Polynesian collection of furniture, hunting instruments and ceremonial garb from a single-owner private collection.

The outstanding assortment of more than 100 rugs Persian and non-tribal rugs includes a variety of styles and sizes, ?featuring Antique Caucasian, Afshar, Bakhtiari pictorial, Karajeh runner, Turkoman, Mahal, Kazak, Heriz Serapi, Qashkaie, Shiraz, a particularly nice Sarouk palace size carpet and more.

The full ?March 11 catalog of the American Indian and Ethnographic Artifacts, with Persian and Oriental Rugs auction may be browsed online at selkirkauctions.com. The Gallery is located at 4739 McPherson in the St. Louis Central West End. Preview hours will be held from March 5th through the auction on March 11th. To arrange bids, please call 314.696.9041 or email [email protected].

Selkirk is accepting quality items for its upcoming Gentleman’s Auction, a first-of-its-kind in St. Louis, which will be held along with Fine & Vintage Musical Instruments on April 22. This will be followed by the Spring Gallery Auction on May 20. In June, Selkirk will once again host the Missouri Auction School Student Auction, on June 5, followed by an Eclectic Auction on June 10.

For more information visit www.selkirkauctions.com, or find us on Facebook.