Brunk Auctions Offers Lakota Ledger Drawing, Jack Swanson Painting, and Other Rarities

Available from Brunk Auctions this February is a robust collection of paintings, sculptures, jewelry, furniture, and ethnographic artifacts. Leading the auction is a Lakota ledger drawing titled Mounted Warrior with War Paint and a Shield. This piece is part of a collection of drawings found in a ledger book at the Amidon courthouse lawn sale. Three different Lakota artists worked on it in the 1880s, portraying events of the day. Among the artists was Jaw, also called His Fight, a Hunkpapa Lakota. The available artwork depicts an armored warrior carrying a shield, commonly symbolic of a powerful warrior who has won battles, with significant cultural significance associated with the shield’s design and the warrior’s facial painting. Also available is a 1985 painting by legendary Western artist Jack Swanson. As one of the first Cowboy Artists of America, Swanson was renowned for capturing the essence of California vaquero cultures and the Western cowboy spirit. Titled Gathering–California, an oil on Masonite work, Jack Swanson portrays a Vaquero on horseback. The piece features the artist’s signature, title, and date.  

Among ethnographic works in the sale, an early 20th-century Acoma polychrome olla is notable. Polychrome ollas are traditional native American water jars, decorated with multicolor designs, which include flowers, parrots, and rainbows in distinctive geometric motifs. This four-color polychrome jar features an elaborate design on its upper body. Bidders can also consider a Black Forest carved burlwood and ebonized center table, a Persian hand-knotted runner, and a pair of sterling silver Native American turquoise bracelets. Visit Bidsquare to browse the complete Mountains, Plains, and Pueblos | February 18, 2025 catalog and find other online auctions. Browse more auction previews on Auction Daily.