Antique Native American Artifacts to Sell at North American Auction Company

This March, a wide variety of jewelry, Western art, and Native American artifacts will be available with North American Auction Company. The Frontier Splendor, Western Wonders & Native American Art sale features nearly 750 lots and will begin at 11:00 AM EDT on March 23, 2024. Here are a few of the top lots in the catalog.

19th-Century Southern Plains Bow, Arrow, and Quiver 

Leading this upcoming auction is a bow, arrow, and quiver set dating back to the 19th century (lot #88; estimate: USD 8,000 – $12,000). This beaded set is attributed to the Comanche Indians of the Southern Plains in Northern Texas and includes two metal-tipped arrows with turkey feather fletching. The original bow is also included in the lot, though the sinew string is missing. Decorated with yellow, blue, and red glass trade seed beads, this set formerly belonged to a private Ohio collection. 

The Comanche people were historically skilled horse riders who roamed the Western United States as hunter-gatherers through the 17th century. They eventually settled in the South Plains, including much of present-day Texas, and thrived in both trade and buffalo hunting. Comanche warriors began fighting with the Spanish in the mid-18th century, leading to ongoing violence and broken treaties. The Comanche people have a rich cultural history and are skilled in beadwork and other crafts. Many quivers produced by this and other tribes during the 19th century were beaded with designs representing the owner’s clan and beliefs. 

C. 1890 Ghost Dance Plains Shield

Another notable Native American artifact in this upcoming sale is a Plains Indian Ghost Dance Shield from the 1890s (lot #254; estimate: $10,000 – $15,000). It consists of a buffalo hide stretched over a hoop frame and decorated with delicate painting. Formerly of the Forest Fenn Collection of Santa Fe, New Mexico, this shield prominently features a painted bird on the front with six black bear claws affixed to the top with crenshaw twine. This shield was possibly made by the Sioux or Arapaho people. 

The Ghost Dance spiritual movement emerged in various Native American tribes in the mid- to late-19th century as dreamers and spiritual leaders prophesied the end of war with white settlers and a return to Native traditions. The movement also emphasized the need for ethical living and unity among the dwindling Native American tribes. Followers believed that Ghost Dance rituals, involving circle dances and songs, would help bring this reality into being and include the return of the dead. The United States government’s fear of the Ghost Dance followers and practices contributed to the death of Sioux Chief Sitting Bull and the Wounded Knee Massacre of 1890. 

C. 1940s-50s Navajo Yei Lukachukai Rug

A large Navajo Lukachukai Yei rug is another key item in the upcoming North American Auction Company event (lot #91; estimate: $2,000 – $3,000). The Yei are the spirit deities of the Navajo people, often representing natural forces or intermediaries between human beings and the Great Spirit. The Navajo Yei are often depicted in works of art, as well as rugs such as the present example. This rug comes from the Lukachukai region of the Navajo Nation, within the state of Arizona. It is made of tightly woven handspun wool dyed with natural substances. Four Yei figures are shown in the rug; each one holds a corn stalk or possibly a spear. 

Yei rugs have historically held both aesthetic and spiritual significance to the Navajo people. Incorporating Yei figures into rugs helped link the material and spiritual worlds. They rose to prominence and acclaim starting in the 1940s. 

Additional lots of interest in the upcoming sale include a multi-colored Montana sapphire necklace (lot #125; estimate: $60,000 – $120,000), an antique Serapi wool rug from the 1880s (lot #70; estimate: 30,000 – $40,000), and a sapphire, diamond, and platinum tennis bracelet (lot #122; estimate: $28,000 – $34,000). 

The Frontier Splendor, Western Wonders & Native American Art sale will begin on March 23, 2024 at 11:00 AM EDT. To view the complete auction catalog and register to bid online, visit Bidsquare. Find additional coverage of this event on Auction Daily.