Classic Navajo Moki-Style Man's Serape to be Auctioned by Heritage!

DALLAS, TEXAS: Living in what is today the American Southwest, the Navajo were primarily a herding society, well-known for the beauty and quality of their weavings. According to their mythology, the Navajo people learned how to weave from Spider Woman, and the first loom was made of sky and earth cords, with the first weaving tools made of crystal, sunlight, lightning and white shell. However it began, Navajo weavings have long been considered some of the most important, beautiful and desirable in existence.

"The wonderful men's serape being offered in our upcoming auction is a fine example of Navajo weaving," said Dr. Edmund P. Pillsbury, Managing Director of Fine and Decorative Arts for Dallas-based Heritage Auction Galleries. "This striking wearing blanket features a unique pattern composed of full and halved serrated diamonds, each enclosing a colorful checkerboard design, and overlaying the fine Moki striped ground. The design is accented by two narrow strips of elongated parallelograms across the center and narrow white end bands. It should be noted that in this case the term Moki, which is normally a term that the Spanish used to refer to the Hopi people, instead simply refers to a style of weaving."

Dr. Pillsbury continued, "Joshua Baer, a leading dealer in Native American artwork, said about this blanket, 'While almost all classic and late classic Moki serapes are divided into horizontal zones, this Moki conforms to the classic format at work in Navajo bayeta serapes and poncho serapes: there is an overall design built around a central diamond, and each design element connects and extends the elements adjacent to it. The presence of checkered design motifs within the serrated diamonds is unique to this example, and echoes the plaid designs at work in historic Hopi bachelor blankets and prehistoric Anasazi ceramic ware.'"

According to Richard Pohrt, Jr., a leading scholar of Native American arts who has researched and cataloged this rich collection, "The value of this particular weaving comes from the simple fact that Navajo Moki Style wearing blankets are just plain rare - no one has ever taken a census but only a handful of surviving examples include raveled bayeta. We can go years without seeing a similar textile in the marketplace. Additionally, the exquisite design on this example is unique and the condition is excellent - another big plus on a textile 135 - 150 years old. This is a piece that any collector - or museum, for that matter - would be proud to own."

"This spectacular blanket is only one piece in our upcoming offering of Native American artworks," Pillsbury said. "I'd invite anyone interested in the artwork of the first Americans to visit our website at www.HA.com/FineArt, where they can view enlargeable, full-color images of each lot being offered, and even enter bids online."

Heritage Auction Galleries will offer the Classic Navajo Moki-Style Man's Serape from the Fred Harvey Collection in their upcoming Signature Auction as part of the Pre-Columbian and Native American Art: The Hendershott Collection Auction, to be held September 29, 2006 in New York City at 2 East 79th Street (at 5th Avenue). Previews of the lots will be held in Dallas (September 12 - 15) and in New York (September 26 - 28)

Classic Navajo Moki-Style Man's Serape from the Fred Harvey Collection
Circa 1870
Length 73 1/2 in. Width 53 in.

For more information about Heritage's auctions, and a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit www.HA.com.

Prospective consignors and sellers of fine art, antiques, decorative arts, silver and art glass are invited to www.HA.com/FineArt and click on the "Sell Now" tab. Or simply email Dr. Pillsbury at EPP@HA.com.

To reserve your copy of any Heritage auction catalog, please contact Nicole Jewell at 1-800-872-6467, ext. 272, or visit www.HA.com to order by email.