Crow Cradleboard more than doubles pre-auction estimate, realizing $137,000

Pasvolsky Collection of American Indian Art shines in Dallas at Heritage Auctions

DALLAS — A Crow Beaded Hide Cradleboard — a rare example of Plains period beadwork and craftsmanship — more than doubled expectations when sold for $137,000 May 15 in Heritage Auctions’ American Indian Art , Pre-Columbian & Tribal Art Auction in Dallas. The auction marked the first time the board had been offered at auction as part of the Valentine Pasvolsky Collection, one of the largest private collections of North and South American Indian art in the world.

“The present sale represents his son's inheritance; the daughter's family sold their portion of the collection through Heritage in late 2013 and early 2014,” said Delia Sullivan, Senior Specialist in Native American Art. “There aren’t many collections like this left out there so we were very pleased at the opportunity.”

Pasvolsky began exhibiting his collection at his home, known as the Indian Village Museum and Trading Post of Lakewood in New Jersey in the 1960s. From the collection, a superb Sioux Beaded Hide War Shirt, circa 1900, comprised of glass and brass beads, hair locks, dyed porcupine quills, sold for $30,000. A Ft. Berthold Quilled and Beaded Hide War Shirt, circa 1890, sold for $9,375.

Bidders pursued 19^th century art well past their pre-auction estimates. A superlative Sioux Spontoon Tomahawk with Beaded Buffalo Hide Drop, from a private California collection but formerly form the Erie Pennsylvania County Historical Society, sold for $87,500. A fine Western Great Lakes Gunstock Club, fashioned from maple and hand-forged steel, sold for $27,500. The club was dated to 1850 and forms like it were often employed prior to the 1830s in tribal warfare from the region of the Upper Great Lakes west to the Missouri River. The club’s blade was also signed by its maker, John Algor.

A stunning Crow or Plateau Quilled and Beaded Buffalo Hide Blanket Strip, circa 1860, sold for $25,000; and a Plateau Beaded Hide Gun Case, circa 1880, sold for $23,750; and a rare Chumash Polychrome Coiled Bowl, circa 1850, saw interest from eight bidders who pushed the hammer price to $17,500.

Additional highlights include, but are not limited by:

A Central Plains Beaded Hide Bowcase And Quiver, circa 1870: Realized: $16,250.

A large San Ildefonso Blackware Plate Maria Martinez and Popovi Da, circa 1960: Realized: $9,375.

A Sioux Beaded Hide Dress, circa 1900, made of elk hide, glass beads, metal beads and metal disks: Realized: $8,125.