Thomaston Place Auction Gallery Native American Art & Artifacts
January 14 at 11 am
www.thomastonauction.com
BID BY PHONE | ABSENTEE | ONLINE
51 Atlantic Highway, Thomaston, Maine 04861

THOMASTON, MAINE — A collection of rare and historically important artifacts, the majority from the 14-year period between the Battle of the Little Big Horn and Wounded Knee, will be featured in Thomaston Place Auction Galleries Native American sale on Friday, January 14. The inventory will include items worn and weapons carried in the fight with Custer and examples of weapons and dress. Some have direct connections to Geronimo and his flight to Canada involving the “Mangas Caves.”

Thomaston Place Auction Galleries was pleased to assist the owner of this small, but choice, group of historically significant pieces. This included facilitating the return of two items — a pistol and knife that belonged to Chief Spotted Elk (aka Big Foot), who died with most of his tribe while camping along the Wounded Knee Creek on December 29, 1890, to the Mniconjou Lakota Tribe. The remainder of the collection will be sold on January 14.

Thomaston Place Auction Galleries owner and auctioneer Kaja Veilleux said, “It’s an honor to represent items collected by such a dedicated student of Native American history. This sale represents a rare opportunity to own items of cultural and historic importance.”
Featured in the auction will be a circa 1870 beaded buckskin war shirt that belonged to Oglala Lakota Chief George Standing Bear (1835-1898), who participated in the Battle of the Little Big Horn. It was unlikely that this shirt was worn in the battle, as it was 100 degrees that day. This likely would have remained with his possessions in camp. It was later transferred to his eldest son, Luther Standing Bear (1868-1935).

A shield used at Little Big Horn by “One Hand,” a Hunkpapa Sioux and member of Sitting Bull’s Bad Bow Band of the Icira, will be offered. An 1820s-era Comanche warrior’s capture or “trophy” shield, it has a later Sioux cover decorated with a green Thunderbird figure and turkey feathers. The original hardened buffalo hump core with Comanche decoration remains intact beneath the newer cover.
The sale will present a circa 1860-70 Upper Plains Warrior’s “Pony Club” that was possibly carried at Little Big Horn. This is considered by many experts to be one of the finest known surviving Native American fighting weapons, with metal spike at the ball end, original tassel and hawk feathers, and rarely seen quill drop and buffalo thong.

An early Twentieth Century album of 40 Native American portraits by photographer Carl Moon (1879-1948) will be offered. Moon was also a painter and collector of Native American artifacts, some of which are included in this sale.

In addition to this historic collection, there will be 152 lots of other Native American items, including Navajo rugs, pueblo pottery, jewelry, paintings and sculpture, blankets and baskets.
The auction will begin at 11 am EST. The gallery will be open for previews Monday, January 10, through Thursday, January 13, from 9 am to 5 pm each day. Previewing will also be available on auction day, Friday, January 14, from 9 to 11 am.

Thomaston Place Auction Galleries is on US Route 1, For information, 207-354-8141 or www.thomastonauction.com.

USA Chief Standing Bear’s War Shirt, ca. 1870s
From the Carl Moon Collection
CheyennePre-Reservation WarShield
From the Carl Moon Collection
Lakota Sioux Breast Plate, ca. 1860
Apache Quiver from
Geronimo-Mangas Camp, ca. 1870s
Kaja Veilleux (ME AUC #902)
207-354-8141 | info@thomastonauction.com
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