Carved as a foot-long oval container and decorated with a stylized eagle’s head and tail, this Northwest Coast bowl brought $230,000.

Bonhams & Butterfields’ Native American art department closed its 2009 sales with its strongest auction since its record-setting winter 2006 sale. The December 14 offering featured desirable property from estates, museums and private collections from across the United States and Europe. More than $2.3 million was paid for more than 460 lots sold, with stellar prices achieved for Northwest Coast items from the Berthusen Native American collection deaccessioned by the Lynden Pioneer Museum, located in Lynden, Wash.

Bidding within the standing-room-only San Francisco salesroom pushed hammer prices far above estimates for several lots described as grease bowls, in use circa 1800 by the Tinglit or Haida, stemming from the Berthusen collection. One example, a 10-inch-long Northwest Coast bowl carved in the likeness of a seal effigy with head, tail and flippers projecting at the ends, sold for $206,000. Slightly larger and carved as a wide oval container displaying the head and tail of an eagle, a 12-inch-long bowl stands as the auction’s top lot †it realized $230,000. Both bowls were estimated at $75/125,000. Selling within estimate was another Northwest Coast seal effigy grease bowl †this example also including a human and bird figure †that brought $67,100 and an 8-inch example displaying a thick dark oily patina exceeded its estimate to bring $79,300.

A Northwest Coast grease bowl, circa 1800‱850, carved in the likeness of a seal effigy sold for $206,000.

Also from the museum collection came a Haida frontlet 7 inches high and 6 inches wide. Carved with bold and shallow relief, the ornament depicts a seated figure with raised hands and abalone insets representing eyes and teeth; it sold for $146,000, doubling the estimate. A collector paid five times the estimate for a Northwest Coast crest ornament carved to depict a crouching humanoid figure †this example also including abalone inset as eyes and teeth †standing just over 5 inches high that sold for $30,500.

The Berthusen Native American collection, according to Troy Luginbill, director and curator of the Lynden Pioneer Museum, was formed by Olive Berthusen (1881‱937) during the lady’s travels along the Canadian Coast, circa 1900. Originally on display in her home and bequeathed to the city of Lynden, the objects had been exhibited at the Lynden Library and the Lynden Pioneer Museum. Proceeds from the Bonhams sale will fund an endowment at the museum. Luginbill wrote, “Through the sale of this collection, a significant local museum will be able to safeguard our American history for many future generations.”

Property from other collections attracted strong bids. Silver jewelry from the noted collection of Lynn Trusdell of New Hope, Penn., brought bids from across the United States and Canada, while baskets, blankets and pottery from other consignors sold well.

A collector paid $146,000 for a Haida frontlet carved in bold and shallow relief on the front, depicting a seated figure with raised hands, the body worked in schematic fashion, with abalone insets throughout.

From an old New Mexico family came a thick-walled, 22-inch-high Kiua storage jar with a red painted rim and a series of dark blossoms adorning the sides. The jar more than doubled its estimate to bring $115,900. A Zuni polychrome drum jar features two varied depictions of a puma in pursuit of a deer, both prey and carnivore rendered with heartline motifs. This large jar stands 18 inches high and sold for twice the estimate, bringing $30,500.

Within the baskets offered, Navajo and Yokut examples brought top prices. A set of four Navajo polychrome baskets, woven in bold patterns of Spider Woman crosses, more than doubled the estimate to bring $5,185, while a pair of Yokut baskets also exceeded estimates. A Yokut polychrome cooking basket, extremely finely woven with butterfly bands, sold for $7,320, and a 6-inch tall Yokut polychrome bottleneck basket with a diamond rattlesnake band on the sides and a dance row of humanoid figures on the shoulder brought $9,760.

Rugs and blankets, beaded objects, sculpture and paintings were sold, including $7,930 paid for a softly woven Hopi twill-weave blanket, a type commonly called a “bachelor’s blanket.” A collector paid $36,600 for a wonderfully vibrant Crow beaded cradle, 40-inches long, with classic Crow styling.

Prices reported include the buyer’s premium. For information, www.bonhams.com/us or 415-861-7500.