Tribal Art - Sotheby's May 20 catalog on line

Eighteen days from now, May 20, 2009 Sotheby's New york will hold an auction of American Indian Art including property from the Frieda and Milton Rosenthal Collection.

The catalog is online for web browsers at Sotheby's.

There are more than 200 lots ranging in estimates from US$5,000 to US$80,000

Among the higher end pieces are Chilkat blankets, Haida rattles, Navajo weavings and historic pottery from the Southwestern Pueblos. Baskets also are well represented.

In addition to browsing through the catalog on line, you can order a copy of the catalog for purchase. We find these printed catalogs, which usually are followed by a 'prices realized sheet' if requested, can be valuable resources for determining values of similar items you may be considering buying or selling.

Oh, yes. You also can bid on line. Be sure to read the terms and conditions. An auction house premium is added to the winning bid.

Whether you bid or not, however, an auction like this can be very educational. At Aboriginals: Art of the First Person and our websites at Tribalworks.com, ZuniLink.com, Native-JewelryLink.com and Native-PotteryLink.com, we value informed buyers. We add our best thinking and experience to the educational mix. The more you know about an object of tribal art, the more you will enjoy owning it.

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Tribal Art - Zemanek-Munster Tribal Arts Auction struggles

According to Web sources, the most recent Zemanek-Munster tribal art auction, held twice a year, attracted a disappointing response.

As a result, the auctioneer has initiated an aftersale to move unsold lots.

For example, this is lot 138, a heddle pulley

Baule - shaped corpus with incised ornaments, front and backside carved with a buffalo head, bobbin missing, min. dam., slight signs of abrasion, on wooden plate

Price: 750 €

Or this example, lot 111, a stool

Gurunsi, Burkina Faso - light brown wood, spotty patina, of simple form, four strong legs supporting a nearly rectangular, slightly hollowed seat, min. dam., signs of usage and abrasion

Price: 300 €

Or this, lot 92, ape mask "ngon"

Bamana, Mali - wood, shiny blackish brown patina, of oval form, a slightly protruding forehead, open worked eyes in round cavities, flanking a triangular, slightly raised nose with drilled nostrils, a broad opened mouth underneath, framed by ears with drilled holes, pierced around the rim, min. dam., slight signs of abrasion, fissures; worn by the initiates of the "koré" society. They used animal masks, thus illustrating the relationship of humans with their own animalistic features.

Price: 2500 €

You can view these and some 258 other lots at Zemanek-Munster's web site. Or see similar items of African and Oceanic tribal art at TribalWorks .

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Skinner to hold Ethnographic Art Auction -1/24/09

(From William and Susanne Waites at Aboriginals: Art of the First Person, proprietors of web sites at TribalWorks, Native-PotteryLink, Native-JewelryLink and ZuniLink)

Skinner, Inc., A Boston auction gallery has scheduled an auction of American Indian and Ethnographic Art on Saturday Jan 24th at 10AM

Lots will include Pre-Columbian and African material, Native American items - including several lots of moccasins, items from the Northwest Coast, Katsina dolls, Navajo silver and several ollas.

In January, Skinner will be launching a new live bidding applet on skinnerinc.com. This applet will provide Skinner’s clients with a whole new bidding experience: the ability to bid live in real-time on the Skinner website from the convenience of home or work. For more information on all the ways to bid in a Skinner auction, or to register to be one of the first live bidders, log onto How to Buy & Sell at http://www.skinnerinc.com/buy-sell/skinner-live.php

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African Tribal Art Auction Alert - Munich, Germany

Our African collectors should know that an auction of African Tribal Art from two collections has been scheduled for September 2, 2008 in Munich, Germany.

The catalog is now online at http://catalog.quittenbaum.de/object_gebiete_african_art_Quittenbaum_
Kunstauktionen__Afrikanische+Kunst__M_074__eng

(If the above link does not work, cut and paste the link information into your browser.)

The price estimates, quoted in euros, seem reasonable, although current economic conditions in Europe may make it difficult for these estimates to be realized, giving bidders some breaks on cost - eve with a 19.5% buyers' premium.

Be sure to click the English language flags to see the catalog in English, if that is your language of choice.

While we have done a brief survey of the items, this alert is in no way an endorsement as to quality, authenticity or value. As with all auctions, it is caveat emptor and you are on your own.

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Brought to you by Aboriginals: Art of the First Person, trading in African Tribal Art at http://www.TribalWorks.com

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How much does an auction cost you?

by William Waites, co-proprietor of Aboriginals: Art of the First Person gallery

If you think auctions don't cost buyers anything more than their bids, find out by checking out the next Inuit art auction announced by Waddington's.

It's an online auction on Monday, February 18, 2008 through Thursday, February 21,2008. Online viewing runs February 11 through February 15 at www.waddington's.ca/ONLINEAUCTIONS.

Actually, we like auctions and we like Waddington's, especially for their support of Inuit art. And we have no problem with them making money in return for the labors.

Nevertheless, if you have never entered into the deep water of an online auction, be careful.

Most auctions include a "buyer's premium". We don't know how much the Waddington's auction's will be.

Be sure to check before bidding. Otherwise, your winning high bid could end up costing you significantly more than you bargained for.

For more information about the impending auction visit Waddington's web site.

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