Category Archives: Native American Art

Ethnographic Tribal Museum Collection Taking Bids Now and Running Live April 8th

Welcome to the “Ethnographic Tribal Museum Collection” by Pangaea Auctions. They are offering over 600 lots that will hit the auction block on April 8th, 2017 with incredibly low start prices ensuring great buys and investment level purchases. This collection represents a collector’s quality selection of Chinese, Native American, European, and American antiques, jewelry and collectibles of the highest quality and importance ranging in historical periods from prehistoric to 18th Century to the 20th Century. A spectacular lot line up for bidders with enough variety to suit every collector ranging from the 18th century to 20th Century with museum quality items. Absentee bidding is available right up until auction day, with the live action kicking off at 8AM Pacific Time.

Pangaea Auctions is an International auction house that operates in more than 50 countries throughout the world. We are a premier auction management company that provides a world-class auction service to its clients. Clients may range from consignors, galleries, artists, estates, collectors, museums and even other auction houses. The Pangaea Auctions business model enables us to consign our client’s collections and market them to a global audience, where Millions of potential qualified buyers are able to bid. The Pangaea Auctions management team pre-approve these bidders through limited partnerships with Internet auction houses and Public auctions houses located around the world.

The auction kicks off with an incredible piece that is nearly impossible to find outside of a museum or private collection. Lot 1 presents a Rare Baule Helmet Mask made from wood. This opens for only $1000 and is valued at over $50000 meaning an incredible buying opportunity. There are several photos in the online catalog. The full description is as follows: “Rare Baule Helmet Mask Made From Wood Depicting A Monkey, Ivory Coast. The Patina Is Extraordinary And Has Multiple Layers Of Pigment From Decades Of Ritual & Ceremonial Use. Legend states that in the 17th century the Baule (Baoule) left present day Ghana and traveled west into present day Cote d’Ivoire under the lead of the Queen Pokou. According to oral tradition, the Baule were forced to leave Ghana when the Ashanti rose to power. While they were fleeing for their lives they came to the Komoe river which they were unable to cross. With their enemies chasing them they began to throw their most prized possessions into the river. It came to the Queen’s attention that their most valuable possession was her son. The Queen realized that she had to sacrifice her son to the river and threw him in. Upon doing so hippopotami rose from the river and allowed them to cross, saving their lives. After crossing, the Queen was so upset about losing her son that all she could say was “baouli,” meaning: the child is dead. From that point on they were known as the Baule. First Time To Sale By Original Owner. Provenance: Ethnographic Museum Collection. Each Lot Was Obtained Between 1960 and 1990 Via Private Collectors And Field Collecting Across West Africa, South East Pacific, California, New York, And Atlanta. Higher Quality Lots Have Been On Exhibition And Have A Custom Made Metal Stand Specifically Designed To Fit The Artwork. Our Private Consignor Has Requested To Remain Anonymous On Descriptions/Advertisements. We Will Communicate (This Item May Be Shipped In A Air Tight Sealed Protected Case At An Additional Charge From The Private Art Shipper Gander And White.) Estimated more than 200 yrs old. (Pangaea Auctions) Size and/or Weight: See Measurement Photo. (Photos Represent The Lot Condition.)”

Lot 18 is a highly sought after Brass Brutalist Sculpture from Lee Menichetti. Pangaea Auctions has reduced the starting price to an incredible $250 so anyone can get in on this beautiful piece of art. The photos are a must see and the full description is: “Lee Menichetti, Brass Brutalist Sculpture. Menchetti created in brass sculptures based on Shakespeare’s bedazzled characters for a theatrical production as part of his Sculpture Theater of Palm Beach, which he co-founded. His collection of metal sculptures has been shown on numerous occasions to benefit local charities and organizations, and have exhibited at several galleries and museums around the globe. For several years, the nonprofit Sculpture Theater produced a mixture of visual and performing arts with presentations at various Palm Beach-area venues, ranging from museums to theaters; many focused on the literature and folklore of world cultures. Sculpture Theater eventually included multimedia performances for Palm Beach County schoolchildren. Born in New York City, Menichetti, who came to live in Palm Beach in the 1980s, was formerly a noted fashion designer. He studied at the Traphagen School of Fashion in New York. After a career as a dress designer, he became a well-known and award-winning creator of high-fashion accessories, working with such luminaries as Geoffrey Beane and James Galanos. His designs were sold at high-end stores, including Martha’s and Sara Frederick’s in Palm Beach. For Sculpture Theater, which often combined the visual arts, theater, music and recitations and featured Menichetti’s sculptures as highlighted characters who come alive via unseen actors reading their lines. Menichetti created all of the art, costumes and set designs. Estimated less than 50 yrs old. (Pangaea Auctions) Size and/or Weight: See Measurement Photo. (Photos Represent The Lot Condition.)”

A really beautiful piece of Navajo jewelry is up for grabs ant Lot 26. Opening for only $375 this is a Navajo South West Blue Turquoise Nugget Sterling Silver Cuff Watch Bracelet from Phil Chapo. As described in full detail: “Phil Chapo, Navajo South West Blue Turquoise Nugget Sterling Silver Cuff Watch Bracelet. Provenance: Personal Collection Of Chief Joe Dan Osceola of The Seminole Tribe. Silver Tested. Estimated more than 50 yrs old. The Navajos are a Native American people of the Southwestern United States. After the Cherokee, they are the second largest federally recognized tribe in the United States. Until contact with Pueblos and the Spanish, the Navajos were largely hunters and gatherers. The tribe adopted crop farming techniques from the Pueblo peoples. The practice of spinning and weaving wool into blankets and clothing became common and eventually developed into a form of highly valued artistic expression. Silversmithing is an important art form among Navajos. Atsidi Sani c. 1830–c. 1918 is considered to be the first Navajo silversmith. He learned silversmithing from a Mexican man called Nakai Tsosi “Thin Mexican” around 1878 and began teaching other Navajos how to work with silver. By 1880, Navajo silversmiths were creating handmade jewelry including bracelets, tobacco flasks, necklaces and bracers. Later, they added silver earrings, buckles, bolos, hair ornaments, pins and squash blossom necklaces for tribal use, and to sell to tourists as a way to supplement their income. The Navajos’ hallmark jewelry piece called the “squash blossom” necklace first appeared in the 1880s. Turquoise has been part of jewelry for centuries, but Navajo artists did not use inlay techniques to insert turquoise into silver designs until the late 19th century. (Wikipedia) Size and/or Weight: See Measurement Photo. (Photos Represent The Lot Condition.)”

Pangaea Auctions are extremely grateful to their collectors and galleries for selecting them to represent such a high quality body of work. This important event will begin live bidding at 11:00 AM Eastern US Time on Saturday April 8th, 2017. Absentee bidding is available right now on iCollector.com. Bidders can join the live auction from any internet enabled device. Pangaea Auctions conducts only four auctions per year to ensure quality lots at a low start price. The entire catalog is available today with photos and detailed descriptions ready for browsing through iCollector.com

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