Freeman’s | Hindman Native American Art Auctions Achieve Nearly $1.5M, Led by the Andrews and Smithee Collections

Freeman’s | Hindman’s two-day Native American Art auctions, presented live in Cincinnati and online, surpassed expectations with a combined total of $1,428,766. The marquee live sale achieved an exceptional 113% sell-through by value, with 93% of lots finding buyers.

 

Cheyenne River or Pine Ridge Sioux Beaded Hide Pictorial Tobacco Bag, The Emily T. and Adolphus Andrews Collection of Native American Art | Sold for $70,350

 

The thoughtfully curated sales spanned centuries and celebrated the rich artistic traditions of North America. The exceptional offering included early Plains beadwork, contemporary Pueblo pottery, and traditional Native paintings, reflecting both cultural heritage and evolving artistic expression. Strong demand was evident across the board, particularly for works from distinguished private collections. The auction was anchored by two cornerstone holdings—the Emily T. and Adolphus Andrews Collection and the Ronny and Doris Smithee Collection of Oklahoma City—alongside notable property from the collections of Colin McCullough, Gary L. Fogle, Richard Rogel (Colorado and Michigan), and an Esteemed Midwestern Collection. Danica Farnand, Vice President, Head of Department, Native American Art said, “Putting this auction together really was a labor of love. It was such a treat to handle so many rare and earlypieces all in one place, and even better to share them with others who appreciate them. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing a sale come together beautifully and knowing it’s welcomed by the collecting community.”

 

Northern Plains Painted Hide Shield Cover, with Shield | Sold for $38,400

 

The Andrews Collection: Landmark Results from a Connoisseur’s Eye

The Emily T. and Adolphus Andrews Collection of Porcupine Point, Lake Tahoe, drew significant attention for its breadth and quality, with rare early pieces from the Northeast, colorful Plains and Plateau bead and quillwork, distinctive California and Pomo baskets, and more. The impressive two-day total for the collection reached $326,987, with 97% of lots sold. Producing three of the top five prices of the live auction, the collection reflected the discerning eye of two respected and well-known collectors.

Leading the sale was a Cheyenne River or Pine Ridge Sioux Beaded Hide Pictorial Tobacco Bag (Lot 54), which realized $70,350—more than tripling its $20,000–25,000 estimate. Thread- and sinew-sewn in vivid red, greasy yellow, cobalt, and translucent green, the bag was decorated with dynamic imagery: two horse-and-rider figures and two men holding a society staff and lance. The use of faceted beads gave the surface a jewel-like sparkle when caught by the light.

Also commanding attention was a Northern Plains Painted Hide Shield Cover with Shield (Lot 55), which achieved $38,400, more than doubling its estimate. Painted in bold red, green, and yellow, the design featured a striking sun-and-moon motif, four Thunderbirds, and a horned spirit being, with yarn- and cotton-wrapped hairlocks around its edge. Equally notable was a rare Cayuse Horse Mask (Lot 125), worn by David Young Chief’s horse in the ca. 1903 Pendleton Round Up Parade, captured in a photograph by Lee Moorehouse. The mask achieved $28,800 against a $15,000–25,000 estimate, its four-point star motif resonating with the Washat or Dreamer Religion founded in the 1860s by Smohalla. Its design, incorporating the North Star and crescent moon, reflects the visionary symbols of that influential belief system.

 

 

Allan Houser (Chiricahua Apache, 1914-1994) | Moving Camp, 1937 | Sold for $11,520

 

 

The Smithee Collection: Southeastern and Beyond

The Ronny and Doris Smithee Collection of Oklahoma City highlighted the couple’s dual legacy as both collectors and dealers, whose deep passion for Native art encompassed treasures from Oklahoma as well as works from across the country. Their collection brought renewed attentionvto Southeastern art, a field too often overlooked, and was a standout of the Cincinnati live auction with a 100% sell-through rate. Leading the group was a Tlingit Chilkat Blanket (Lot 261) from the late 19th century, which soared to $15,360 (estimate: $6,000–8,000). Woven from mountain goat wool dyed in black, yellow, and cream with cedar bark fringe, the blanket’s bold totemic imagery exemplified the strength of the tradition.

Other standout results included Allan Houser’s Moving Camp (1937) (Lot 152), which realized $11,520—a record result for a tempera on paper by the artist and nearly quadrupling its low estimate—and a Zuni Polychrome Pottery Olla (Lot 213), decorated with medallions and heartline deer, which sold for $7,680, more than doubling expectations.

Reflecting on her long relationship with the Smithees, Head of Department Danica Farnand noted: “I remember Ronny from the days of the Whitehawk Show when the Santa Fe Convention Center was still called the Sweeney Center. Our booth was tucked in a corner upstairs, but Ronny always found us. From there, the rest was history.”

 

Additional Auction Highlights

• Lot 133 | Apsáalooke Beaded Hide Shirt, late 19th century, Property From the Collection of Mr. Richard Rogel, Colorado and Michigan | Sold for $38,400

• Lot 162 | Mexican Late Classic Saltillo Serape, third quarter 19th century | Sold for $38,400

• Lot 31 | Eastern Sioux Quilled Hide Tobacco Bag, mid-19th century, The Emily T. and Adolphus Andrews Collection of Native American Art | Sold for $25,600

• Lot 114 | Cheyenne Beaded Hide Tobacco Bag, fourth quarter 19th century, The Emily T. and Adolphus Andrews Collection of Native American Art | Sold for $24,320

• Lot 62 | Northern Arapaho Tacked Pipe Tomahawk, mid-19th century, The Emily T. and Adolphus Andrews Collection of Native American Art | Sold for $20,480

• Lot 104 | Southern Plains Shield and Cover, second half 19th century, Property From the Collection of Mr. Richard Rogel, Colorado and Michigan | Sold for $20,480

• Lot 106 | Apache Painted Hide Bag, third quarter 19th century, The Emily T. and Adolphus Andrews Collection of Native American Art | Sold for $20,480

• Lot 27 | Early Plains Pony Beaded Buffalo Hide Shot Pouch and Powder Horn, mid-19th century, The Emily T. and Adolphus Andrews Collection of Native American Art | Sold for $16,640

• Lot 141 | Central Plains Ledger Drawings, second half 19th century | Sold for $15,360

• Lot 117 | Blackfeet Beaded Hide Tobacco Bag, Published, fourth quarter 19th century, The Emily T. and Adolphus Andrews Collection of Native American Art | Sold for $14,080

• Lot 1 | Great Lakes Black-Tanned Hide Knife Sheath and Knife, Exhibited and Published, ca 1780, The Emily T. and Adolphus Andrews Collection of Native American Art | Sold for $12,800

• Lot 29 | Upper Missouri or Plateau Pony Beaded Hide Tobacco Bag, ca 1850, The Emily T. and Adolphus Andrews Collection of Native American Art | Sold for $12,800

 

A Strong Market Across the Board

With spirited bidding across both live and online sessions, Freeman’s | Hindman’s Native American Art auctions reaffirmed the vitality of the category and the enduring interest in works from distinguished private collections.