‘Sacred Rain Bowl’ artwork may see $150K in American West sale

DENVER -- The November 5 and 6 Arts of the American West auction at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, Denver will include property from a Midwestern museum that features a strong showing of historic Western American paintings and bronzes. Work by the following artists will be on offer Charles M. Russell, Eanger Irving Couse, Frank Tenney Johnson, O.C. Seltzer, William Robinson Leigh, Edgar Samuel Paxson, Herman Wendelborg Hansen, Olaf Wieghorst, Frank McCarthy, Charles Henry Humphriss and Harry Jackson, among others.

Also of note is a collection of Thomas C. Molesworth furniture being sold to benefit the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming. Other items from various private collections from across the country include American Indian art and artifacts, a selection of pueblo pottery, Navajo textiles, basketry, beadwork and fine Native American jewelry.

Especially relevant, from the Midwestern museum collection of American West paintings is Eanger Irving Couse¹s Sacred Rain Bowl, oil on canvas, estimated at $100,000 to $150,000, William Robinson Leigh¹s The Roper, oil on canvas, estimated at $100,000 to $150,000. Also Charles M. Russell¹s watercolor, Pointing Out the Trail, circa 1889, which carries a presale estimate of $100,000 to $150,000. Plus, Frank Tenney Johnson¹s Rocky Steeps, oil on canvas, has an estimate of $40,000 to $60,000.

Among the selection of Thomas C. Molesworth designed and executed furnishings are a wood dining room table with iron horseshoe decoration. Accompanying the table is four matching leather upholstered benches. The entire lot carries an estimate of $12,000 to $18,000. A leather and Chimayo upholstered loveseat with attached side tables will come before bidders with an estimate of $6,000 to $8,000. A pair of side tables with routed thunderbird motif with tacked leather may top an estimate of $600 to $800. Furthermore, all will be sold to benefit the Buffalo Bill Center of the West.

Furthermore, highlights of the American Indian art session are over 100 lots from the private collection of Ruth and Robert Vogele, Burr Ridge, Illinois. This thoughtfully assembled collection includes works by some of the most respected pueblo pottery artisans such as Margaret Tafoya, Lucy Lewis, Maria Martinez, and Fannie Nampeyo. Another feature is a selection of fine Indian jewelry by Hopi artist Charles Loloma and many more. Highlights from the Vogele collection include a 1986 polished redware olla by Margaret Tafoya. It is titled "Corn Blossom," and has an estimate of $5,000 to $7,000. In addition, a Blackfeet beaded youth vest, circa 1900, comes to auction with an estimate of $1,500 to $2,500. Furthermore, a gold, lapis lazuli, coral and turquoise cuff bracelet by Charles Loloma may see $15,000 to $25,000.

The sale will include property in all categories from various private collections across the U.S.

including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Montana, New York, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wyoming.

In addition, lots receiving bidder interest ahead of the sale:

Finally, a rare multi-colored stained glass window designed and executed by famed artist Charles Loloma, (Hopi, 1921-1991). Possibly one-of-a-kind, this window hails from the offices of a Phoenix collector, circa1980. Each piece of vibrantly colored glass was hand selected by Loloma. Furthermore the window was uninstalled when the office building was sold in 1987 and has not been publicly displayed since.

For more information, visit www.lesliehindman.com.