Post by blackcrowheart on Nov 15, 2005 11:28:53 GMT -5
news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051114/NEWS10/511140327/1002/NEWS
Indian artist auctions Custer items
Activist's collection also includes stone pipes, drums and headdresses
Frank X. Mullen
RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL
Posted: 11/14/2005
ANDY BARRON/RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL
Adam Fortunate Eagle sits next to one of his sculptures at his home in Fallon in May 2001. Fortunate Eagle, 76, is selling his collection of artwork and other items Wednesday as part of an auction that starts today.
For most of his 76 years, Adam Fortunate Eagle of Fallon has been collecting -- and creating -- American Indian art and artifacts.
His collection, which includes weapons associated with Col. George A. Custer's defeat in the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876, is scheduled to be auctioned this week in San Francisco.
"It's kind of my 401(k) retirement account," said Fortunate Eagle, whose Anglo surname is Nordwall. "My wife, Bobbie, and I live on Social Security, and we wanted some supplemental income. I hate to part with these things, but for us it's a way of cashing in our bonds."
Indian memorabilia
The auction, scheduled today through Wednesday, is run by Greg Martin Auctions of San Francisco. The sale features American firearms and Indian artifacts, art and memorabilia.
Fortunate Eagle, an artist and activist, is well-known in the Bay Area and beyond for his leadership and participation in the Indian takeover of Alcatraz in 1969. He and Bobbie live on the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Reservation, where he still creates totem poles, carved statues, pipes and other art.
The 138 items in the auction include firearms, artwork, beaded clothing, baskets and other artifacts of unique provenance associated with Native American history, culture or tradition.
Fortunate Eagle's collection comes up for sale Wednesday, the 36th anniversary of the Alcatraz occupation, and includes a peace pipe that was smoked on the island at the time.
His collection also includes other stone pipes, drums, buckskin war shirts and other clothing, woven baskets, totem poles, headdresses and historic firearms.
"I guess my favorite piece is the carbine that belonged to Curley, Custer's scout at the Little Big Horn, who was the last of his surviving command to see him alive," Fortunate Eagle said. "Curley's son, George Old Elk, was my adoptive father and as part of that auction lot we're including a photo of Curley holding the gun."
The weapon is a U.S. Springfield Model 1877 trapdoor carbine, estimated value $8,000 to $12,000. The auction also includes a British flintlock ($700 to $1,000) with attributed ownership to Crow Warrior Warm Robe, a veteran of the Battle of the Little Bighorn, a Crow hand drum ($600 to $900) also owned by Curley and a Sheffield Bowie knife ($250 to $350) found near Custer Battlefield.
'Become heirlooms'
Also being sold are artwork made by Fortunate Eagle and Bobbie and various Indian art and artifacts given to him as gifts over the years.
"Many times on reservations and in Indian families items like these are lost through indifference or end up in pawn shops or in the trash," Fortunate Eagle said. "By selling these things they will become heirlooms for other families and will still be enjoyed and prized. The history will be remembered."
Indian artist auctions Custer items
Activist's collection also includes stone pipes, drums and headdresses
Frank X. Mullen
RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL
Posted: 11/14/2005
ANDY BARRON/RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL
Adam Fortunate Eagle sits next to one of his sculptures at his home in Fallon in May 2001. Fortunate Eagle, 76, is selling his collection of artwork and other items Wednesday as part of an auction that starts today.
For most of his 76 years, Adam Fortunate Eagle of Fallon has been collecting -- and creating -- American Indian art and artifacts.
His collection, which includes weapons associated with Col. George A. Custer's defeat in the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876, is scheduled to be auctioned this week in San Francisco.
"It's kind of my 401(k) retirement account," said Fortunate Eagle, whose Anglo surname is Nordwall. "My wife, Bobbie, and I live on Social Security, and we wanted some supplemental income. I hate to part with these things, but for us it's a way of cashing in our bonds."
Indian memorabilia
The auction, scheduled today through Wednesday, is run by Greg Martin Auctions of San Francisco. The sale features American firearms and Indian artifacts, art and memorabilia.
Fortunate Eagle, an artist and activist, is well-known in the Bay Area and beyond for his leadership and participation in the Indian takeover of Alcatraz in 1969. He and Bobbie live on the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Reservation, where he still creates totem poles, carved statues, pipes and other art.
The 138 items in the auction include firearms, artwork, beaded clothing, baskets and other artifacts of unique provenance associated with Native American history, culture or tradition.
Fortunate Eagle's collection comes up for sale Wednesday, the 36th anniversary of the Alcatraz occupation, and includes a peace pipe that was smoked on the island at the time.
His collection also includes other stone pipes, drums, buckskin war shirts and other clothing, woven baskets, totem poles, headdresses and historic firearms.
"I guess my favorite piece is the carbine that belonged to Curley, Custer's scout at the Little Big Horn, who was the last of his surviving command to see him alive," Fortunate Eagle said. "Curley's son, George Old Elk, was my adoptive father and as part of that auction lot we're including a photo of Curley holding the gun."
The weapon is a U.S. Springfield Model 1877 trapdoor carbine, estimated value $8,000 to $12,000. The auction also includes a British flintlock ($700 to $1,000) with attributed ownership to Crow Warrior Warm Robe, a veteran of the Battle of the Little Bighorn, a Crow hand drum ($600 to $900) also owned by Curley and a Sheffield Bowie knife ($250 to $350) found near Custer Battlefield.
'Become heirlooms'
Also being sold are artwork made by Fortunate Eagle and Bobbie and various Indian art and artifacts given to him as gifts over the years.
"Many times on reservations and in Indian families items like these are lost through indifference or end up in pawn shops or in the trash," Fortunate Eagle said. "By selling these things they will become heirlooms for other families and will still be enjoyed and prized. The history will be remembered."