This extraordinarily rare Olmec Jade dagger or possible bloodletter was found together with the below quartz dagger, This piece is 4 1/2" long. The little Olmec man on the top is only 1 1/4". You can imagine the amount of work that went into creating and carving this miniature little man using only abrasion. Sculptures such as these are every much of a marvel as the great Olmec heads and the intricate Mayan temple carvings. This is truly a masterpiece in miniature...
This extraordinarily rare Olmec Quartz dagger or possible bloodletter was found together with the above jade dagger. It was made from a long quartz crystal of gem quality with no inclusions and ground to shape. This piece is 5 1/2" long. This Olmec artifact is of the finest workmanship and material. The effigy is in a classic Olmec pose. The artifact was in four pieces and glued back together perfectly under a microscope by Dennis Bushey. The breaks were clean and no material filler was needed...
These are five extremely rare copper skull bells/pendants that were found in an elite tomb at Monte Alban, Oaxaca in 1936. Each bell in about 1/2". They date to 1000-1500AD. Copper was mined largely from Guerrero. No cleaning or restoration, exactly as found. A must have for any pre-Columbian metallurgy collection.
This Olmec maskette is from Veracruz, Mexico. It dates to 1200-900BC. It measures 2" wide by 1 1/4" high by 1/2" deep. It depicts the classic were-jaguar with forehead cleft, almond shaped eyes, broad nose, mouth showing gums and teeth and a scrolled design that encircles the sides of the face. The top of the forehead is biconically drilled for suspension in a design that is reminiscent of the Costa Rican agate bat wing pendants from the same time period...
A New Mexican stamped tin retablo from the late 19th century, with a new mirror replacement. Very Good Condition. Tin Frame: 14" T x 12" W; At tallest point: 17 1/2" T; Mirror: 9 3/4" T x 7 3/4" W.
A rare large pictorial beaded Iroquois animal whimsey, circa 1890. Depicting what looks like a mythological deer or elk figure. A great folk art piece. One of the largest and most spectacular whimseys known. With a great sculptural relief, and beaded in white, blue, green, copper, light tan, numerous beaded suspensions with tubular beads, sequins. Excellent Condition. 11 1/8" wide; 12 1/2" tall; 15 3/8" tall (w/suspensions).
A Hopi polychrome wood Kachina doll depicting Hólolo, circa 1915-1920. Description from Colton, "Case mask painted green or brown, with pop eyes, snout, cheeks painted with half moons or small circles. Douglas fir or juniper ruff. Kilt, sash, fox skin, and green moccasins. Body painted red with yellow shoulders, forearms and lower legs. Carriers rattle and bow and arrows. Appears in kivas in spring or in Mixed Kachina Dance." Good Condition consistent with age, some paint loss...
A New Mexican tin retablo by the Valencia Red & Green Tinsmith circa 1880-1890. Provenance: Nancy Hunter Warren, photographer & author; Santa Fe, New Mexico. Condition Very Good with a cracked glass (can be replaced). 9 1/8" Diameter; Image: 3" Wide x 4 3/8" Tall.
An unusual tin sconce from the 19th century. Provenance: Nancy Hunter Warren, Santa Fe, New Mexico. Excellent Condition. 4 9/16" Wide (at middle); 8 1/16" Wide (at cross); 9 5/8" Tall; 2 3/8" Deep.
A New Mexican straw-overlay black-stained pine document box circa 1850. Provenance: Al Luckett Collection, sold at Sotheby's "American Furniture and Decorative Arts from Spain's Northern Colonial Frontier", New York, Thursday January 15, 1998, Lot No. 39. Extremely Fine Condition considering the age. 16 1/8" long, 10 3/8" wide, 7 1/4" high.
A San Juan carved wood figure from mid-twentieth century. Secular carving of the Deer Dancer. Excellent condition. 12 1/4" tall.
A set of Fred Harvey silver coffee pot and creamer. Early-mid twentieth century. The coffee pot has an embossed sunburst design on the side, and a working hinged lid. Each item is engraved on the bottom: the coffee pot reads, "Fred Harvey; International Silver Co.; 09-01; 48 oz; 71 [boxed in]", the creamer reads, "International Silver Co.; Fred Harvey; 89 004 1 08; 74 [boxed in]". Very Good condition with minor dings...
A uncommon Hopi polychrome mudhead pottery vessel circa 1920-1930. It is very unusual to have a mudhead depicted on a pottery vessel. Excellent condition, with no loss. 6 1/2" diameter
A polychrome Hopi wicker tray circa 1920-1930. Depicting a Palik Mana wearing an elaborate tableta and a woman's shawl. On the back of the tray there is an uncommon reversal of the image which shows the figure's backside. It is also rare in that the entire body is shown, rather than just the face. Excellent condition, with normal fading on the front. 13" diameter
A pair of Sioux buffalo hide moccasins circa 1880. With dark blue, red, white hearts, and green in geometric square and triangular designs. Excellent condition.
Hopi Hemis Kachina doll with tablita. Circa 1880-1890. Minor paint and wood loss. Dimensions: 14 1/4" tall.
A rarely carved secular version of the Buffalo Dance figure. Circa 1920. Having secular eyes, a buffalo dance headdress with horns, kilt, arm bands, and moccasins, and wearing a decorative, wooden, tail-like appendage. Excellent condition with only minor paint loss. In the four decades that I've been collecting and dealing kachinas, this is the first Buffalo Dance figure I've had. Dimensions: 8 1/2" tall.
Circa 1840-1850. Buffalo hide quiver with traces of red and green pigment. Contains seven arrow shafts, four with metal points. Ash bow with original animal hair and fiber string. Provenance: Mordecai Thomas Bertram (1843-1904) collected c. 1860-1870 on the Sauk and Fox reservation, then descended within the family.
Circa 1875-1880. Depicting a warrior killing or scalping another man, the warrior holding an elaborate war shield with long feather decorated panel hanging from its center and followed by his horse. The word "Owl" above. On the reverse is written, "This drawing was from a book shown by Robert Miller Gallery N.Y. 1970's. I think it is Southern Cheyenne. George Terasaki sold the book to Miller. Modern artists like David Hockney and Janet Fish received drawing from this book...
Circa 1875-1880. Depicting two warriors on horseback in combat. The warrior on the left wears a long feather headress and carries a pistol. The warrior on the right carries a bow case across his shoulder and holds an arrow in his left hand...
Rare, beaded hide, sinew sewn, miniature Sioux Blanket Strip circa 1880. Decorated with four central medallions with geometric designs. It is attached to a red textile. This may be one of the smallest blaket strips known. The strip measures 30 1/2" Long x 1 1/2" Wide, and the medallions are 2 1/8" in diameter. The red textile measures 43" Tall x 40" Wide.
Rare Kiowa belt with 10 German silver conchos on a harness leather strip with buckskin tie suspensions and rectangular cutouts on each end of the leather strip. Belt is 34" long x 3" wide. Conchos are 2 7/8" in diameter. One Concho has different design elements from the other 9. Most likely a man's belt. Circa 1900.
This is a hammered sheet silver breastplate with the neatest iconography that I have seen. This piece screams pre-Columbian. It depicts a fanged anthropomorphic transformational diety war god figure in full regalia holding 3 double-headed snakes/serpents wearing an elaborate feline/monster headdress showing fierce demon facial features. It shows many levels of patination. It is 7.2" X 5.7". It is attributed to the Chavin culture. Similar figures at The Old Temple from the ceremonial center of Ch...
Navajo silver canteen, circa 1920. Excellent condition; shows use. Stamped with various geometric decorations. Beautiful cap with handmade silver chain. 3" long; 2 7/8" diameter.
A rare and very attractive Peruvian stirrup spout vessel in the shape of a monkey.
Moche period (100-600 AD)
Condition: the four legs have been restored, the nose is chipped.
This piece comes from an old Dutch private collection.
Height 17 cm Width 15 cm
This seated figurine is dressed in Chieftain regalia and is wearing a fierce mask of a demon. It is carved from antler and has some glued repairs, but no restoration. It is from the Chimu, Peru culture, C950AD. See "The Gold of Peru", page 242 for similar carvings. It is 2" long by 1" wide and stands alone for display. It is from a Dutch private collection. Comes with certificate of authenticity.
Navajo Turquoise and Silver Cross, mid-twentieth century c.1950. Sand cast, silver cross with central turquoise stone set in silver bezel. Heavy casting. 2 1/2" L x 1 3/4" W.
This rare Archaic E-Notch point, made from translucent gray glossy flintridge, is in perfect condition. It has heavy grinding on the base and in the bottom portion of the notches. This is a classic example of the type and is beautifully beveled. It was found near Circleville, Pickaway County, Ohio. Comes with a Gregory Perino certificate of authenticity and shows very nice mineralization and patination.
This Classic Mayan mother-of-pearl figurine is 1 1/8" wide. It was found by Dr. Allen Heflin. Although I could not capture it in photos, it is nicely opalescent. It would make a very unusual jewelry finding. It is C300-900AD.
This finely carved shell skull was found by the famous Dr. Allen Heflin on 9-16-61 in Cuautitlan, Mexico. This Aztec piece dates to 1200AD. It is drilled for suspension. A nice little ancient piece that could be used in jewelry. It is 1/2" long and solid.
This nice dual image with monkey on top is made from albite. It is from Copan. It is 1" tall and is from the Keith Finello collection. It is drilled on the top for suspension. It dates to the Classic Mayan period C300-900AD.
This Olmec "spoon" is 1 1/4" X 3/4" and is made from translucent fuchsite. It is generally accepted that these served as trays from which shamans inhaled hallucinogenic snuff. This piece is from the famous Keith Finello collection and dates to C900-600BC.
This extremely rare Olmec deformed fetus is described in the book “The Olmec World Ritual and Rulership”. A very similar one is pictured on page 55. Carolyn E. Tate from Texas Tech University, who wrote this chapter, stated only 18 such figurines were known to her. It is 1 1/2" long and made from the highest quality Olmec blue translucent jadeite. This piece has good microscopic evidence of contact with the soil including staining and mineral deposits. Under magnification, bacterial metaboli...
This very fine drilled 6 1/4" carved bone shawl or hair pin depicts three birds eating a large snake and is engraved on both sides. It is beautifully patinated.
This beautiful Olmec true light green translucent jade (specific gravity tested at 1.66) axe-god is 3 3/4" long and 1 1/4" wide. The back shows no evidence of modern repolish. This piece is ex. Keith Finello. Authenticated by a forensic laboratory, Orenda Labs. Comes with a custom made gold-plated cage so it can be worn. Please view my video of this item at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVv0z3Bhvr4.
This Mayan alabaster poison bottle dates to the Classic Mayan period C300AD-600AD. It is 2 3/4" x 1 3/4". and has no repairs or restoration. It was found in Peten, Guatemala. It is from the well known Willard Leutze collection.