Los Angeles, CA — As we say goodbye to summer, Moran’s is kicking off their fall lineup with the Art of the American West sale, Tuesday, September 10th, 2024, at 10:00am PDT. The auction will present nearly 500 lots and will feature an exciting and robust offering of fine art for a wide range of collecting aesthetics from historic to contemporary including works by Oscar Howe, E. Irving Couse, Z.S. Liang, Edward Borein, Heinie Hartwig, Lew Davis, Curt Walters, Dan Namingha, and Marjorie Reed. There will be over 150 lots of traditional and contemporary Navajo and Pueblo silver jewelry and belts. Western interiors can be accented and refreshed by a fantastic selection of Navajo blankets, stunning Tlingit, California and Southwest baskets, pottery by Gloria Goldenrod Garcia, and an impressive collection of Northwest Coast carved cedar masks. Furniture highlights include wood pieces by Roycroft.
Lot 40: E. Irving Couse (1866-1936), "California Cypress" $30,000-50,000
Leading the sale is a 1959 work by the Yanktonai Dakota artist, Oscar Howe. Howe (1915-1983) was a renowned Native American artist best known for his innovative and expressive depictions of traditional Dakota culture and mythology. Born on the Crow Creek Reservation in South Dakota, Howe grew up immersed in his heritage and was deeply influenced by the rich visual traditions of his people. His art was exhibited widely in galleries and museums across the United States and Europe, and he received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the field. Despite facing discrimination and marginalization throughout his life, Oscar Howe remained committed to his artistic vision and his cultural heritage. Just last summer, Moran’s achieved the new world auction record for the artist with his work, ““Camte Waste, No No Wa” (“Good Heart Forever”) selling for a whopping $325,000*. This September, Moran’s is honored to present collectors with Howe’s “Grass Dancer (Pezhin wachipi),” lot 69, with an estimate of $80,000-120,000.
Lot 93: Doug Hyde (b. 1946, Nez Perce, Assiniboine, & Chippewa), "Second Mesa Basket Dancer," $10,000-15,000
Other headliners of the sale include E. Irving Couse and Z.S. Liang. In 1904, Couse (1866-1936) embarked on a train journey from Washington to California, a trip that likely inspired his painting “California Cypress.” As a long-time resident and a founder of the Taos Society of Artists, Couse’s documented travels suggest that he did not spend much time in California. The striking cypress trees he encountered might have influenced this painting, as their distinctive presence made the area a stop on his tour of the West Coast. Collectors now have the opportunity to enjoy “California Cypress,” lot 40, estimated $30,000-50,000. Lot 97 will present, “Native American hunter, 2006” by the Chinese artist, Z.S. Liang, estimated $20,000-30,000. Born in China and raised in a family of artists, Liang (b. 1953) began his training at an early age studying realism. It was at the end of the Cultural Revolution when Liang, along with many other Chinese artists, gained access to western books and magazines and the ability to travel abroad and experience western culture. Liang traveled to the east coast of the United States, and it was there where he was first inspired to paint Native American cultures. Today, Liang’s penchant for detail combined with the historical and narrative elements of his paintings have firmly established him among the ranks of the finest western, representational painters in the country.
The selection of sculpture in this sale is noteworthy, featuring works by Doug Hyde and Gib Singleton. For decades, Hyde (b. 1946) has been a recognized leader among Native American artists. From images evoked by Indian lore to those reflecting the modern Native American, his work exudes emotion, strength, and beauty and is resonating of his Native American heritage. Estimated $10,000-15,000 is lot 93, “Second Mesa Basket Dancer,” 1982, a 66” tall woman figure carved from Indiana limestone. Lots 98-100 will offer examples by the American sculptor and modern master of bronze sculpture, Gilbert Jerome “Gib” Singleton (1935-2014) with estimates ranging $6,000-12,000.
Lot 101: A Roycroft wood dresser, model 0108 variant $4,000-6,000
Over 40 stunning examples of Native American textiles will make their way to the block including a piece by the award-winning Navajo/Diné Master weaver Etta Claw Peacock, known for her very finely woven Yei tapestry style rugs. Lot 214, estimated $4,000-6,000, is a Navajo Yei textile from the late 20th/21st century woven in brown, tan, grey, rust, orange, cream, yellow, black, and blue wool, with twelve Yei dancers and a rainbow guardian, with a complex sawtooth border. Other textile offerings include a large Navajo Germantown eyedazzler rug, a Navajo Germantown Third Phase wearing blanket, and a Navajo Late Classic dress half.
Collectors are sure to enjoy the 150+ lots of Native American jewelry and concho belts. One of the standouts is lot 346, a Southwest Pueblo squash blossom necklace, estimated $800-1,200, featuring a single strand of silver beads with twelve crosses suspending a cast silver naja and oval turquoise settings. There will also be a Curtis Pete Southwest 14K gold and turquoise ring, estimated $1,000-1,500 and an E. Piaso Navajo silver and turquoise concho belt, estimated $1,500-2,500.
Other highlights include three lots of Roycroft furniture, including lot 101, a mirrored dresser, estimated $4,000-6,000. An impressive collection of Northwest Coast carved cedar masks will be presented, featuring four pieces by Randy Stiglitz, estimated $500-2,000. Among the selection of Tlingit, California and Southwest baskets is lot 133, a Yokuts basket, estimated $1,800-2,200.
To learn more, or to register to bid, go to www.johnmoran.com.
*- Includes buyer’s premium
— Brenda Smith, John Moran Auctioneers
Victor Brecheret (1894-1955), "Guitarrista". Carved marble, 20" H x 14.5" W x 5.375" D est. $20,000-30,000
“Leading the sale is a 1959 work by the Yanktonai Dakota artist, Oscar Howe. Howe (1915-1983) was a renowned Native American artist best known for his innovative and expressive depictions of traditional Dakota culture and mythology. ”
Upcoming Auctions
John Moran Auctioneers is continuing their 2024 lineup with the Art of the American West auction, Tuesday, September 10th, 2024, followed by the Summer Silver Jewelry- Online sale, Wednesday, September 11th, 2024. Be sure to mark your calendars for these upcoming auctions so you don’t miss out on the action, and the treasures!
Art of the American West: Tuesday, September 10th | 10:00 am PDT
Summer Silver Jewelry- Online: Wednesday, September 11th | 12:00 pm PDT
Fine Jewelry & Timepieces: Tuesday, September 17th | 12:00 pm PDT
Latin American Art + Design: Tuesday, October 22nd | 10:00 am PDT
California and American Fine Art: Tuesday, November 12th | 12:00 pm PDT
Art of the American West: Wednesday, November 13th | 10:00 am PDT
For upcoming highlights, online catalogues, and more information on these sales, visit Moran’s website: www.johnmoran.com and follow us on social media: @johnmoran_auctioneers. Along with our website, bidding is now available online via Moran’s new mobile app, Moran Mobile, available on both iOS and Android operating systems. You may also choose to bid by phone or absentee.
Consignments are always welcome:
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