Native American And Western Sale Set For May 26 At Morphy's In Las Vegas

May 11, 2017

Morphy Auctions is pleased to announce a world-class Native American and Western auction to be held on Friday, May 26, at the company’s Las Vegas, Nev., gallery starting at noon EST. A full spectrum of quality merchandise will be offered across categories such as American Indian and historical artifacts, antique advertising and ephemera, weapons, and early bar back bottles. All items in this sale are available for preview in the company’s Las Vegas facility.
American Indian cultural items feature prominently in this auction, with many of these items demonstrating extraordinary quality and design. Lot #67, a circa 1865-75 rare third phase pictorial Chief's blanket variant, is woven with natural ivory and brown wool, and is colored with indigo blue, red cochineal, and green vegetable dyes. Measuring 85-by-64 inches, its design features unusual pictorial elements including stars and birds. It is estimated at $60,000-$90,000. Lot #111, a rare, circa 1860 Prairie tobacco bag detailed with contour floral motifs beaded on hide, cutouts, and early paint, should hold bidders’ interest with its $20,000-$30,000 estimate. Lot #256, an early 20th-century 124.5-inch-high, nontraditional native cedar totem pole, features carved faces and is topped with an eagle with spread wings. It is estimated at $10,000-$20,000 and includes a base to keep it securely upright. And lot #155, a circa late 19th-century Western Apache large coiled and lidded basket, made from devil's claw, red yucca, and willow fibers, is truly a work of art from every angle. This pictorial polychrome olla is decorated with woven stylized human and equine figures among chevrons. Its lid has a large morning star center and small triangles around the rim. This lot estimated at $40,000-$80,000.
Collectors are certain to go to war over this sale’s selections of interesting antique hand weapons. Lot #109, a circa 1880 pipe tomahawk with a steel head, its original leather gasket, and an unusually long original haft with file branding, is estimated at $10,000-$15,000. Lot #110, a circa 1840-50 Osage Missouri War axe tomahawk, features a long, round haft and triangular, thin blade, typical to its age and origins. This example was featured in the 2010 book, “The Missouri War Axe: War Tomahawk of the Plains and Prairies,” and is estimated at $15,000-$20,000. Lot #157, a very rare circa 1860-70 Yanktonai Sioux knife blade war club, features two large blades and a haft made of chestnut that is decorated with hot file branding and brass tacks. There are approximately 20 known knife blade war clubs - all attributed to the Yanktonai Sioux of eastern South Dakota. This example was featured in the 2009 book, “The Mark Francis Collection of American Indian Art,” and is estimated at $15,000-$25,000. And lot #66, a circa 1860 Eastern plains or Western Great Lakes classic gun stock club, is estimated at $45,000-$50,000. This rarity features a triangular base pierced for attachment of a wrist cord and a recessed grip. Its other cutting-edge details include an elaborately engraved, carved, and accented shaft and an exaggerated steel blade. It is pierced twice and inlaid with brass, the words "Little Hill” set into the crook.
This event features an extensive offering of antique advertising materials relating to America’s fascination with the “Wild West.” Lot #146, a rare Old Forester Whiskey advertisement, is estimated at $10,000-$15,000. This printer's proof with reverse lettering is professionally mounted and framed. It was produced by Chas. W. Shonk Co. of Chicago, Ill. And lot #50, a circa 1908-09 poster for the Winchester .401 caliber self-loading rifle, is right on target with its $4,000-$5,000 estimate. This vibrant example was originally executed by Philip R. Goodwin for Winchester.
Two Indian themed antique advertising examples are lot #100, a mid-19th century, 90-inch-tall wooden cigar store Indian, estimated at $40,000-$80,000, and lot #7, a circa 1885, 77-inch-tall flat board cigar store Indian tobacco curb sign, estimated at $6,000-$12,000. The full-bodied Indian is hand-carved, holds a bundle of "Best Quality Cigars,” and is looking off into the distance with one hand shading his eyes. The flat board Indian sign was made for narrow doorways and easy storage and came from Baltimore, Md. It is marked “E.H. carved” on the bend of the elbow. Similar early flat board cigar store signs are pictured and described in “Cigar Store Figures in American Folk Art” by A. W. Pendergast and W. Porter Ware and “Artists in Wood” by Frederick Fried.
Exciting Buffalo Bill themed collectibles also take the spotlight in this sale. Cabinet cards, posters, and paintings featuring this famous showman are all on offer. Lot #99, a rare Buffalo Bill's Wild West “White Eagle” advertising poster, is estimated at $8,000-$15,000. It is framed behind glass and is illustrated with Buffalo Bill “Guiding and Guarding.” Its colors remain vibrant. And lot #131, a matted and framed original show poster for Buffalo Bill's “Wild West, Congress, Rough Riders of the World, Miss Annie Oakley, the Peerless Lady Wing-Shot,” in very nice condition, is estimated at $3,000-$4,000.
This sale rounds out with a refreshing blend of antique back bar bottles, calendars, artwork, sculptures, and saddles. Lot #51, a framed Union Metallic Cartridge Co. 1900 single calendar page of plains buffalo, is estimated at $10,000-$15,000. Lot #185, a clear, faceted glass aniseed back bar bottle decorated with an image of a lovely woman, is estimated at $2,000-$4,000. And lot #132, Joyce Lee’s original oil-on-board painting, “Practice Loop,” comes full circle at $5,000-$8,000.
"This auction offers some of the finest Western and Indian themed merchandise to come to auction in memory. We are very pleased to display as well as sell these outstanding examples from our Las Vegas location. The quality and craftsmanship demonstrated on the antique Indian cultural items is simply breathtaking. The large, lidded olla basket is astonishing in its decoration, handiwork, and scale. You really have to see it to appreciate the endless hours that went into its creation. We welcome you to visit our gallery in Las Vegas to view these rarities in person, or, of course, check them out online anytime at www.morphyauctions.com,” said Dan Morphy.
Morphy Auctions Las Vegas is located at 4520 Arville St., Las Vegas, Nev.
The Las Vegas gallery is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For additional information, call 702-382-2466 or email info@morphyauctions.com.

 

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