Ladder Back Rocking Chair, Human Effigy Arm Terminuses
Extraordinary Example of Colonial and Native American Collaboration
The arm terminals carved with faces are in the manner of the Penobscot Indians
Coastal New England, Likely New Hampshire, or Maine Date/Period: 18th Century
Material: Maple, ash splint seat, undisturbed black painted surface, varnish
Condition: The wonderful and original painted surface displays deep rich crackled
patina and is worn at stretchers and arm rests; note the wonderful time worn wear
patterns at arms, shoulder, and leg positions
Additional Information: An Extraordinary Example of Colonial and Native Collaboration
Likely made by a Native American employed in the coastal New England furniture
making industry. The cross-cultural aesthetics combined work in concert seducing the
eye, mind, and soul.
Featured are the standards of fine furniture making, a vocabulary of graceful turnings;
finials surmounting rear posts display an inventive spirit…all this enhanced by the
painted surface displaying a soulful patina combine naturally with the Native hand-
woven ash splint seat and carefully carved human effigy arm finials presenting a soft
reductive visage, balanced proportion, and impassive gaze. The human effigy within
Eastern Woodlands culture is emblematic and distinct from other representations of the
human form and often represents a guardian spirit, or a “chiefly “designation.
The original woven seat is made of hand cut ash splints, typically shaped by a
crooked knife, is undoubtedly of Native manufacture. Native crafts people of this time
are known for their “chair bottoming” (See; Nan Wolverton, American Indian Baskets
Made in New England, Antiques Magazine, January 2004 for a discussion of Native
woven splint seat bottoms).
The combined “best in class” Native and non- Native aesthetics, from such a specific
time and place allow the unknown makers of this remarkable chair to come to life again.
The rocker surfaced in New England form an unknown picker many years ago
Skinners Auction, Bolton, Massachusetts
James Economos , Santa Fe, New Mexico via private sale from above
Peter Bram, Brooklyn, NY
Trotta-Bono, NY
Nathan Liverant & Son, CT
Ned Jalbert, Florida
For additional information please email or call David Hillier drh@aaawt.com 978-597-8084
1029-67
Crooked Knife, Mocotaugan, Important Example Date/Period: Circa 1881
Condition: Fine condition, original blade, and handle with a deep patina from use,
minor surface abrasions and chips, later binding wire – as typical.
Additional Information: A rare and wonderful folk art crooked knife by an unknown
maker initialed “FL” and dated 1881. Embellished with a profusion of animal images
raised above etched surfaces including two rattle snakes, a dog, a squirrel eating a nut:
a cat/fox/pony? …a deeply scales fish, a bird in flight; a star and six etched hearts.
The crooked knife which derives its name from the oblique angle of the handle to the
blade [known as the Mocotaugan to Algonquin speaking tribes] is the essential carving
tool of the eastern woodlands tribes as well as the non-native woodsman.
In the pantheon of crooked knives, those with animal or human imagery are the
rarest. This example is embellished with creatures from the land, sea, and air in a
realistic folk art composition. It’s maker was an obvious master craftsman possibly
making the knife for his own use or someone that he cared for…either way, the piece is
singular in its imagery and stands as one of the finest examples of a folk art crooked
knife extant.
Provenance: Originally collected in Wisconsin purportedly from the family of the
original owner.
Ex: Private Collection, Wisconsin.
Ex: Ned Jalbert Collection, Florida (author of Mocotaugan the Story and Art of the
Crooked Knife)
$6,950.00
1029-68
Tomahawk, Native American Pipe Tomahawk, Eastern Woodlands Date/Period: Circa 1790-1820
Measurement: Length: 19"; head: 7" x 1.25"
Material: Steel, ash, pewter
Condition: All original, good color and patina; typical shrinkage to diameter of haft
Additional Information: Cigar-shape haft featuring inlayed geometric pewter bands
and mouthpiece cap; haft is drilled through for pipe; hand forged crescent-shape head
with barrel-shaped bowl having double ring at top; beneath the bowl are forged
chevrons and moldings.
$8,500.00
1196-8
Antique, Small Lidded Basket, Trinket or Sewing
Probably Maine, possibly Penobscot/Wabanaki Date/Period: 1920-1930
Measurement: Height: 3"; diameter: 6"
Material: Ask splint, braids of sweet grass, green paint
Condition: Excellent, no breaks
Additional Information: A lovely example of good form demonstrating the makers
mastery of craft. This vintage basket, painted green, is in wonderful condition with no
broken weave. Pushed up bottom, lid tapers inward.
$395.00
463-16
Native American Ledger Drawing, Armed Warrior & Soldier on Horseback, Plains
Historical Artistic Document Preserving History Date/Period: Circa 1870
Measurement: Frame: 16" x 12.75"; drawing: 12.25" x 8"
Material: Lead and colored pencil on discarded ledger paper
Condition: Good
Additional Information: A Plains Indian drawing, the front and reverse with sums and
notations in ink…shows a, armed soldier on brown horse in uniform and hat being
pursued by a native American on horseback with bow and arrows.
$2,250.00
1335-53
Sioux Beaded Pipe Bag, Porcupine Quill Wrapped Panel, Fringe Date/Period: Third Quarter of 19th Century
Measurement: 35" x 7"
Material: Beaded hide, tin cones, porcupine quill
Condition: Losses to quill wrap, two tin cones have separated but we have them;
supple, beads intact
Additional Information: Multicolored geometric designs on white background
$2,850.00
308-590
Large Native American Wooden Feast Ladle, Eating Spoon
Possibly Cree Date/Period: 19th Century
Measurement: Length: 14"; width: 6.25"
Material: Cherrywood
Condition: Age – shrinkage cracks to leading edge of bowl.
Additional Information: A rare, oversized ladle displaying the makers skill; good color
and patina.
$950.00
314-105
Native American Carved Wooden Effigy Ladle, Scoop, Beaver
Great Lakes or Prairie Date/Period: 19th Century
Measurement: Length: 11.25"; width: 5.5"
Material: White walnut, butternut
Condition: Good, wear to side of bowl from use, displays well
Additional Information: Woodlands carved effigy ladle, shallow oval scoop with
tapering handle continuing in a carved stylized beaver.
$1,750.00
314-106
Antique, Native American, Woodlands, Carved Wood Effigy Ladle Date/Period: 19th Century - SOLD
Measurement: Length: 9.75"; width: 4.5"
Condition: Very good, may have once had bead or nail eyes
Additional Information: Shallow spade shape scoop with round handle tapered at
each end; stylized dog head or possibly a bear head. The back of head displays a relief
carved heart.
SOLD
314-95
Native American Carved Wooden Effigy Ladle, Scoop
Anonymous Date/Period: 19th Century
Measurement: Length: 8.5"; width: 3.5"
Material: Hardwood, dark patina
Condition: Good, any ear is commensurate with age and use
$415.00
314-111
Zuni Effigy Olla, Very Fine, Applied
Three-Dimensional Zuni Frog Jar
Circa 1880-1900
Natural clay, red, black, and white pigments
with green added post-firing
Four applied frogs and butterfly designs, rim decorated with rhythmical repetition of
geometric designs. Outstanding original condition. (Height: 8"; diameter: 12.5")
$9,250.00
859-16
19th Century Utensil, Small Wood Carved Spoon
Anonymous, 19th Century, Possibly Native American
Beautiful patina, fine condition, length: 5"; width: 2.25" (Sold with display stand)
$645.00
314-84
Antique Root Club, Portrait &
Chip Carved, Likely Maine
Possibly Penobscot, circa 1900-1925
Birch, root, and polychrome
(Length: 20.5")
$395.00
110-1003
Prehistoric Anasazi Pottery Bowl, Black on White, Light Gray Pottery
Native American, Southwestern United States, Ancestral Puebloan
Purportedly found in Canyon de Chelly near Four Corners Area
Pottery bowl with rounded but stable base, tall thin walls and rim; nine panes of
pigmented geometric decoration in repeating design
(Chip to rim, else fine and original; height: 4.5"; width: 8.5"; depth: 8.25")
The entire length with incised border centering chevron-like scratch carving, fletched arrows and a turtle symbol signifying good life and long life. (Fine condition; 53.25”)
$3,200
281-86
Effigy Stone Pipe, Possible Mound Builder, Prehistoric Southeast Please call for more information…
(Length: 4”)
$965.00
172-4
Beaded Velveteen Cap, Native American, Head Gear, Floral Decoration
Iroquois, Niagara Floral Style
Circa 1860
Four panel thread sewn on velvet, lined with polished cotton, decorated with multiple seed bead colors creating a full floral pattern centered by rows of white beads and dotted with sequence. Insignificant bead loss.
281-46
$1,455
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