Furious Selling

March in Montana reports a 97 percent sell-through rate across two huge sales in Great Falls.

March in Montana has a long history of presenting a large cross section of the whole West. Not just paintings and bronzes, but also weavings, pottery, leather and silverwork, and so much more. The 2022 edition of the annual sale lived up to, and exceeded, those expectations when it returned to Great Falls, Montana, on March 18 and 19. Don Oelze, Unwelcome Guests, oil on canvas, 34 x 48” Estimate: $18/25,000 SOLD: $53,100

1873 Winchester rifle, 44-40 caliber with 28-inch barrel with checkered stock, marked “1 of 1000” Estimate: $75/125,000 SOLD: $90,750

Realizing more than $2.75 million, the sale saw steady and, at times, furious bidding as 97 percent of the lots sold. Most auctions hope to be in the 90s with their sell-through rates, but 97 percent is especially noteworthy with March in Montana’s 755 lots spread across two sessions.

The top lot was a pair of Edward H. Bohlin silver parade saddles with silver-mounted breastcollars, bridles and bits, coronas and saddle racks. Bohlin parade saddles are some of the most iconic Western saddles ever made and they frequently sell for high prices. These saddles, being sold as one lot, were estimated at $60,000 to $80,000, but soared past that when they closed at $94,400. Another Western item that performed strongly was a rare “one-in-a-thousand” Winchester rifle from 1873, estimated at $75,000 to $125,000. The rare item, chambered at 44-40 caliber with a 28-inch barrel, sold within estimates at $90,750.Olaf Wieghorst (1899-1988), Custer at Crow’s Nest, oil on canvas, 18 x 24” Estimate: $20/30,000 SOLD: $44,250The remaining eight pieces in the top 10 were all artworks, with three Henry C. Balink pieces performing strongly. Leading the charge with the Balink pieces was Dance Roach, a portrait of a seated Native American figure who is holding a headdress made of fur and feathers. The work, estimated at $30,000 to $40,000, overshot estimates when it sold for $64,900. Two other Balink works, The Hunter and Dancer Drummer, sold for $50,150 and $32,450, both selling above estimates. Edward H. Bohlin (1895-1980), pair of silver mounted parade saddles, Beverly model, with silver breastcollars, bridles and bits, coronas and saddle racks. Estimate: $60/80,000 SOLD: $94,400Two Olaf Wieghorst paintings also had strong showings: Custer at Crow’s Nest (est. $20/30,000) sold for $44,250 and Bucking Bronc (est. $20/30,000) sold for $35,400. Wieghorst, despite being quite prolific and living a long life, has held strong at auctions all around the West. Other highlights from the sale include Don Oelze’s Unwelcome Guests (est. $18/25,000) that sold for $53,100, more than double the high estimate; Andy Thomas’ Fight on the Southern Plains (est. $40/60,000) that sold for $44,250; and Dave McGary’s bronze The Crow and the Bear (est. $15/25,000) that sold for $39,325. Other bronzes that performed well were by artists such as John Coleman, Charles M. Russell, Joe Halko and Lorenzo Ghiglieri. In addition to the bronzes, works by Jennifer Johnson and William Moyers also sold well above estimates. Henry C. Balink (1882-1963), Dance Roach, oil on canvas, 30 x 25” Estimate: $30/40,000 SOLD: $64,900

Organizers of March in Montana are already looking ahead to the 2023 sale, which will take place March 17 and 18 in Great Falls. —

Top 10 Lots: March in Montana, March 18-19, 2022 (including buyer’s premium)
Artist Title Low /High Estimate SOLD
Edward H. Bohlin Pair of silver parade saddles $60/80,000 $94,400
1873 Winchester rifle $75/125,000 $90,750
Henry C. Balink Dance Roach $30/40,000 $64,900
Don Oelze Unwelcome Guests $18/25,000 $53,100
Henry C. Balink The Hunter $30/40,000 $50,150
Andy Thomas Fight on the Southern Plains $40/60,000 $44,250
Olaf Wieghorst Custer at Crow’s Nest $20/30,000 $44,250
Dave McGary The Crow and the Bear $15/25,000 $39,325
Olaf Wieghorst Bucking Bronc $20/30,000 $35,400
Henry C. Balink Dance Drummer $10/15,000 $32,450