ROCKLAND, MASS.- Willis Henry Auctions, Inc. will present Tribal Art material at auction featuring four major collections: the John P. Richardson Collection of Hingham, Massachusetts including Southwestern paintings from the Henry Beston family (from artists Willard Page, David Swing and Vernon Jay Morse). Prehistoric stone artifacts from the late Roland E. Engstrom Collection, some found on the South Shore and other from Mid-West mounds, some first discovered and authenticated mid 19th c., stone and effigy pipes, early tools, axes, weapons and arrowheads. Other prehistoric items acquired from a Florida collector include a birdstone, a boatstone and pottery. The Manhattan Estate of Stefan Brecht, son of playwright Bertolt Brecht, includes four pieces of Mimbres pottery originally purchased at Sotheby’s in the 1970’s. A Connecticut family consigned a collection of baskets (Southwest and Northwest Coast with histories), Pueblo pottery ollas, seed and water jars, dough bowls (Acoma, San Ildefonso, Hopi, Zuni, Zia, Santo Domingo), Hopi Kachina dolls, and an outstanding array of Plains beadwork including a very fine beadwork pipe bag with American flags, many fine pairs of moccasins, knife and awl cases.

Northwest Coast carvings include a totemic dance paddle, ivory harpoon heads, kayak models, a rare Shaman’s pipe in the form of a bear, Haida dagger fragment mounted on stand. A large collection of African masks and figural carvings from a Pennsylvania collection will be sold after the American Indian Art. Oceanic and Philippines pieces include a rare Marquesas Island palm leaf fan with totemic handle, which was found in a New Bedford, MA seafarer’s estate. Pre-Columbian pottery from Costa Rica, Central and South America. McKenney-Hall prints are from a Rockport, Massachusetts estate. Inuit stone cut prints and a small collection of finely carved signed Inuit soapstone figures were a late addition to the sale. Finely detailed bronze statue of a Native American fisherman by Jud Hartmann will be sold. Navajo silver and turquoise jewelry from a Boston collection include fine contemporary pieces signed by the artists. Pawn jewelry was acquired by Ann Berthold who traveled to Gallup, New Mexico after retiring in 1952 from teaching and being the Principal (a career of 39 years) at the Woodcock School in North Attleboro, MA. She visited the Mike Kirk Trading Post where she purchased many pieces of pawn jewelry and a rarely seen Paiute beaded basket. Other early jewelry and beadwork was acquired from a Rhode Island family who inherited pieces from their father, a Harvard Professor, who also traveled. The auction also offers some good examples of Navajo weavings in wonderful colors and designs.

The auction catalog can be seen on-line at www.willishenryauctions.com and the public is invited to Preview the auction (Saturday, May 25th, from 12-5 pm, and Sunday morning from 9-11 am), and attend the auction starting at 11 am at the Holiday Inn in Rockland, Massachusetts (929 Hingham Street) on May 26, 2013.