Robust Bidding

Hindman’s most recent Arts of the American West auction reaches $1.7 million in sales.

On June 4 and 5, Hindman hosted its Arts of the American West auction to enthusiastic bidders across four online platforms, as well as to phone buyers and absentees. Having hosted a number of online sales in the company’s history, the shift to the remote auction was an easy transition and enabled the auction house to field the flurry of sales easily for this two-day event. In all, the auction achieved $1.7 million, with its first day, dedicated to Western paintings and sculpture, accounting for $1.3 million of that total.

Martin Grelle, A Warrior’s Pride, 2001, oil on canvas, 30 x 24”. Estimate: $20/40,000 SOLD: $52,500

"Our Western art session garnered immense presale interest regardless of the current global circumstances. It was immensely gratifying to share the results with all our consignors. Collectors continue to enjoy our auctions, which incorporate a mix of historic and contemporary Western art. This auction showed the continued demand for quality Western works leading to outstanding prices realized,” says Kate Hlavin, Hindman’s director, specialist of Western art.

Bill Anton, Montana Monarchs, oil on canvas, 40 x 60”. Estimate: $10/15,000 SOLD: $47,500

Leading the sale was Henry Shrady’s bronze Buffalo, which sold nearly four times its low presale estimate of $18,000, when it brought in $68,750. Several other bronzes landed in the top 10 lots, including Allan Houser’s Abstract Crown Dancer I, which achieved its high estimate of $25,000; John Coleman’s Pitatapin Bowlance Warrior (est. $10/15,000) at $22,500; and two by Vic Payne that both exceeded expectations: Restless in Santa Fe (est. $8/12,000) at $23,040 and The Long Trail Home (est. $10/15,000) at $21,760.

The highlight of the first session, however, was property from the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming, being sold to benefit the Center’s acquisition fund. The Coleman bronze was one of the items from the group, as well as pieces from other members of the Cowboy Artists of America. Martin Grelle’s 2001 painting A Warrior’s Pride—depicting a Native American warrior on horseback leading another horse—was the top earner from the collection and the No. 2 lot of the sale at $52,500 against an estimate of $20,000 to $40,000.

Henry Shrady, Buffalo, bronze, 22½ x 32 x 11”. Estimate: $18/24,000 SOLD: $68,750

The third highest achieving work of the auction also came from the Center: Bill Anton’s buffalo landscape Montana Monarchs. “Our cover lot was the Bill Anton painting, which sold for $47,500 against a pre-auction estimate of $10,000 to $15,000,” says Hlavin. “We were really happy about that.”

There were also notable sales for Louisa McElwain and John Nieto, while the second day’s session dedicated to Native American art and jewelry saw standouts such as two cuff bracelets that sold for $20,480 each. The first was a gold, coral turquoise and lapis inlay piece by Charles Loloma that topped its estimate of $10,000, and the second was a work by Jesse Monongya with gold and cobblestone inlay that bested its estimate of $15,000.

Vic Payne, Restless in Santa Fe, bronze, ed. 29 of 50, 36 x 84 x 22”. Estimate: $8/12,000 SOLD: $23,040

Hindman’s next Arts of the American West sale is scheduled for November 5, and while they are actively seeking Western, wildlife and Native American art for the auction, already in-house are two works by Henry Farny, a Fritz Scholder painting, two works by Billy Schenck and paintings and sculpture by Dan Namingha.

Allan Houser (1914-1994), Abstract Crown Dancer I, 1991, bronze, ed. 1 of 12, 46½ x 16 x 12”. Estimate: $15/25,000 SOLD: $25,000