Reno, NV, USA, December 23, 2023 — An early 1900s Miller Brothers 101 Ranch performer’s beaded gun belt sold for $10,000, a circa 1940 handmade buckskin and beaded ceremonial dress made by native Nez Perce woman V. Morris brought $9,062; and a button-shaped silver ingot made in Arizona in 1882 changed hands for $13,125 at a massive, four-day Christmas Chronicles auction held Dec. 7-10 by Holabird Western Americana Collections, LLC, online and live at the gallery in Reno.
The mega-event – the last of the year for Holabird – was packed with over 2,500 lots in a variety of collecting categories, starting at 8 am Pacific time each day. The categories included saloon, bottles, brewery, mining, numismatics, philatelic, general Americana, stocks and bonds, fine art, display minerals, vintage toys and more – something for novice collectors to seasoned veterans.
Internet bidding was provided by iCollector.com, LiveAuctioneers.com and Invaluable.com Telephone and absentee bids were also accepted. All prices quoted include the buyer’s premium.
Day 1, on Thursday, December 7th, contained 555 lots of art, photography, Native American art, imported collectibles, home items, souvenir plates, silverware, jewelry, Native American artifacts, maps, books, entertainment and musical instruments – a strong start to the auction.
The Day 1 top lot was a four-piece group featuring a gold necklace with a gold nugget engraved in gold, “George’s Gulch 1909” (no doubt a trophy for its owner); 8.3-gram and 1.7-gram gold nuggets with quartz; and a 12.2-gram gold watch chain ($9,062). The runner-up lot was the hand-made Nez Perce buckskin ceremonial dress with beautiful detailed beadwork in a rainbow of colors, 52 inches long, produced by V. Morris, a native Nez Perce female artisan born in 1900.
Anyone owning a collection that might fit into a Holabird Western Americana Collections, LLC auction is encouraged to get in touch. The firm travels throughout the U.S., to see and pick up collections. The company has agents all over America and will travel to inspect most collections. To learn more about Holabird Western Americana Collections, LLC, please visit www.holabirdamericana.com.
