September 28, 2011
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Coconino Center for the Arts • Flagstaff, AZ
Public Preview 9 a.m.–1 p.m., Auction 2–5 p.m.
In collaboration with the Museum of Northern Arizona (MNA), Flagstaff Cultural Partners (FCP) will host the semi-annual Navajo Rug Auction on Saturday, November 12, 2011 at the Coconino Center for the Arts. The auction will feature over 200 vintage and contemporary Navajo weavings from artists, consigners, and the R. B. Burnham & Co. Trading Post. Rug styles being auctioned include Two Grey Hills, Ganado, Teec Nos Pos, Ye’ii, Pictorial, Wide Ruins, Storm, Sandpainting, and Eyedazzler.
There will be a public preview of all the weavings the morning of the auction from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. The live auction begins at 2 p.m. and is free to the public. A portion of the proceeds from this event will provide support for Flagstaff Cultural Partners and the Museum of Northern Arizona.
Consignments will be accepted for the auctions. Artists and other consigners are invited to bring their Navajo weavings to the Coconino Center for the Arts from Wednesday, November 9, through Friday, November 11, 2011. Experts will be on hand to view and select weavings.
The auction will be led by auctioneers from the R. B. Burnham & Co. Trading Post. Bruce Burnham and his family are well-known for their work in trading Native art of the Four Corners region for five generations. He has been a trader to the Navajo for over forty years and is also the auctioneer for the Hubbell Trading Post in Ganado, Arizona. He and his wife Virginia own and operate the Burnham Trading Post and Collector’s Gallery in Sanders, Arizona, in the Navajo new lands. The Burnham family is known for their encouragement of innovation and quality in Navajo textiles, and Bruce Burnham’s expertise in buying, selling, and trading has earned him the respect of area collectors and peers nationwide.
Specialists and experts in the field of Native art and Navajo weaving will be on-site to identify handspun, hand-carded, and vintage pieces, versus acrylic yarns, to ensure quality items and prices for the auction. Information on how to evaluate and buy Navajo rugs will also be available.
Navajo rugs are a great investment. Historically, the value of rugs has appreciated with time, and in recent years, Navajo rugs have outdistanced many other investment options for their return on investment. The breadth of artists, styles, and bidding opportunities has made rug auctions an affordable way to purchase and collect high quality rugs. Rugs sell from twenty to several thousand dollars. Even if you do not buy anything, it is a great cultural experience.
Navajo rug auctions are also an excellent opportunity to learn more about Native art. Before the auction, you can hold rugs in your hands and appreciate them up close. Detailed information and discussion about a specific piece, artist, and other aspects of the weavings will be available before and after the auction by experts in the field of Navajo weaving and culture. It is important to note that auctions allow weavers to obtain an immediate and higher return for their work.
Call (928) 779-2300 or visit culturalpartners.org or musnaz.org for more information.