Collector's
Hall of Fame

Collector's Spotlight

      Finding a katsina carved by Tewaquaptewa (last traditional ‘chief’ of Orayvi Village) is rare.
      Finding three is exceptional.

      From left to right:

      (Resembles a Kocha Mana/White Maiden except for the mouth) – 9.5 inches high.
      (Resembles a Kocha Honau Mana/White Bear Maiden) – 9 inches high.
      (Has elements of a Tasaf, Supai and Fox katsina) – 9.5 inches high.

              (For a photograph and more information on Tewaquaptewa, click here.)

This Navajo bracelet was made somewhere in the 1950's to the mid 1960's time period and is set with three very, very nice natural turquoise from the Bisbee Mine.   Notice how unusually finely stamped the silver feathers are. (SOLD)

A Navajo ketoh or bowguard of hammered ingot silver, made somewhere between the late 1800’s and early 1900s.   On one side there is a repousse bar of the type normally used as a blouse ornament, doubtlessly added later.   A great, collectible piece. (SOLD)

An exceptional work by the late Charles Loloma, Hopi jeweler and artist extraordinare,   fashioned of 14K gold, coral, turquoise and one piece of artfully placed royal lapis.

This is the finest old Acoma olla we have had in years.   It measures 11.5 inches high and 13 inches across with beautiful, powerful black and white design work.   It dates between the late 1800s and about 1910.   $13,500.

This necklace, made in the early 1970s, is set with some beautiful, natural, Lone Mountain spiderweb turquoise.   It is Navajo made but is unsigned.   The naja is reminiscent of work by Mark Chee, but unlikely to be his as I have never heard of him failing to sign a major piece.

This bird wing motif plate by Maria and her son Popovi is 9.5 inches across.

This remarkable Zia Olla is dated circa 1880 - 1900. It stands 9.75 x 10.5 inches.

This Tesuque pot was made circa 1890.
It measures 4.75 x 5.25 inches.

An exceptional work by the late Charles Loloma, Hopi jeweler and artist extraordinare.   This is known as a hidden beauty style.

Seri Saptim made by Nora Molina.   Nora and her sister Aurelia are considered by most experts as the best of the Seri basketmakers.   It was completed in Nov. 1987.   There have been about a dozen Saptim's completed and sold since they were restarted by the Seri in the late 70's. There have been two that were larger (one is in a museum in Mexico City), but they have larger coils and were not nearly as fine quality as this basket.   It is clearly one of the top few ever made. The coils per inch on such a large basket are 2 to 2 1/2 coils per inch, but the coils on this one range from three to four per inch.   It is a little over 40 inches high and 53 inches in diameter.

An older (1930s probably) Pima parching basket of willow and devilsclaw.
13 inches across and 3.5 inches deep.   Four plus coils per inch.

This olla from Santo Domingo Pueblo is 9.75 inches high and 12 inches across.   It was made by Santa Melchor (1889-1978) in the mid-late 1950s.   She was a well-regarded, active potter for many, many years.