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Feb 06, 10:00AM EST

The Van Kirke & Helen Nelson Collection

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  • Lakota Beaded and Quilled Hide Pipe Bag
    Estimate
    $5,000 - $7,000
    Lot 145

    Lakota Beaded and Quilled Hide Pipe Bag

    Est.
    $5,000 - $7,000
  • Central Plains Beaded Skullcracker Club
    Estimate
    $600 - $800
    Lot 146

    Central Plains Beaded Skullcracker Club

    Est.
    $600 - $800
  • Plains Skullcracker Club
    Estimate
    $500 - $700
    Lot 147

    Plains Skullcracker Club

    Est.
    $500 - $700
  • Plains Beaded Skullcracker Club
    Estimate
    $400 - $600
    Lot 148

    Plains Beaded Skullcracker Club

    Est.
    $400 - $600
  • Plains Beaded Skullcracker Club
    Estimate
    $500 - $700
    Lot 149

    Plains Beaded Skullcracker Club

    Est.
    $500 - $700
  • Plains Skullcracker Club
    Estimate
    $400 - $600
    Lot 150

    Plains Skullcracker Club

    Est.
    $400 - $600
  • Central Plains Beaded Quirt
    Estimate
    $2,000 - $2,500
    Lot 151

    Central Plains Beaded Quirt

    Est.
    $2,000 - $2,500
  • Crow Beaded Buffalo Hide Rifle Scabbard
    Estimate
    $15,000 - $20,000
    Lot 152

    Crow Beaded Buffalo Hide Rifle Scabbard

    Est.
    $15,000 - $20,000
  • Plains Pipe Tomahawk
    Estimate
    $4,000 - $6,000
    Lot 153

    Plains Pipe Tomahawk

    Est.
    $4,000 - $6,000
  • Three Plains Wood Bows
    Estimate
    $800 - $1,200
    Lot 154

    Three Plains Wood Bows

    Est.
    $800 - $1,200
  • Plains Buffalo Hide Bowcase and Quiver
    Estimate
    $6,000 - $8,000
    Lot 155

    Plains Buffalo Hide Bowcase and Quiver

    Est.
    $6,000 - $8,000
  • Large Blackfoot Beaded Buffalo Hide Knife Sheath and Double-edged Dag Knife
    Estimate
    $25,000 - $35,000
    Lot 156

    Large Blackfoot Beaded Buffalo Hide Knife Sheath and Do...

    Est.
    $25,000 - $35,000
  • Two Northern Plains Woman's Saddles
    Estimate
    $400 - $600
    Lot 157

    Two Northern Plains Woman's Saddles

    Est.
    $400 - $600
  • Plains Child's Saddle
    Estimate
    $4,000 - $6,000
    Lot 158

    Plains Child's Saddle

    Est.
    $4,000 - $6,000
  • Three Blackfoot Horse Regalia Items
    Estimate
    $5,000 - $7,000
    Lot 159

    Three Blackfoot Horse Regalia Items

    Est.
    $5,000 - $7,000
  • Crow Bridle with Beaded Ornament
    Estimate
    $4,000 - $6,000
    Lot 160

    Crow Bridle with Beaded Ornament

    Est.
    $4,000 - $6,000
  • Crow Woman's Saddle and Stirrups
    Estimate
    $4,000 - $6,000
    Lot 161

    Crow Woman's Saddle and Stirrups

    Est.
    $4,000 - $6,000
  • Two Plains "Knucklebones" Games
    Estimate
    $200 - $250
    Lot 162

    Two Plains "Knucklebones" Games

    Est.
    $200 - $250
  • Two Plains Metal Hide Scrapers
    Estimate
    $300 - $400
    Lot 163

    Two Plains Metal Hide Scrapers

    Est.
    $300 - $400
  • Two Plains Elk Antler Hide Scrapers
    Estimate
    $500 - $700
    Lot 164

    Two Plains Elk Antler Hide Scrapers

    Est.
    $500 - $700
  • Plains or Apache Flute made from a Rifle-Musket Barrel
    Estimate
    $300 - $400
    Lot 165

    Plains or Apache Flute made from a Rifle-Musket Barrel

    Est.
    $300 - $400
  • Plains Buffalo Dew Claw Rattle
    Estimate
    $300 - $400
    Lot 166

    Plains Buffalo Dew Claw Rattle

    Est.
    $300 - $400
  • Blackfoot Buffalo Hide Medicine Rattle
    Estimate
    $300 - $400
    Lot 167

    Blackfoot Buffalo Hide Medicine Rattle

    Est.
    $300 - $400
  • Blackfoot Elk Skin Work Bag
    Estimate
    $250 - $350
    Lot 168

    Blackfoot Elk Skin Work Bag

    Est.
    $250 - $350
  • Plains Wood and Hide Drum
    Estimate
    $800 - $1,200
    Lot 169

    Plains Wood and Hide Drum

    Est.
    $800 - $1,200
  • Plains Pictorial Wood and Hide Drum
    Estimate
    $2,500 - $3,500
    Lot 170

    Plains Pictorial Wood and Hide Drum

    Est.
    $2,500 - $3,500

Auction Description

The Van Kirke & Helen Nelson Collection by Bonhams Skinner

Skinner is proud present a single-owner auction of The Van Kirke and Helen Nelson Collection of American Indian Art. While the Nelsons, as Montana residents, emphasized material from the Blackfeet and Crow tribes, their collection encompasses fine examples from a broad cross-section of Plains and Plateau American Indian material culture.

Preview Times

February 4, 12PM—5PM
February 5, 12PM—7PM
February 6, 8AM—9:30AM

Contact Us
508-970-3254
AmericanIndian@skinnerinc.com

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Bonhams Skinner
Boston, MA 02116
United States

bidsquare@bonhamsskinner.com

Phone:+1 6173505400

Buyer’s Premium

Start Premium (%)
$0 25.00

Bid Increments

Start Increments ($)
$0 $10
$100 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$3,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$30,000 $2,500
$50,000 $5,000
$100,000 $10,000
$300,000 $25,000
$500,000 $50,000
$1,000,000 $100,000

Shipping Info

Please visit http://www.skinnerinc.com/services/payment-and-shipping/ for information regarding the collection of items purchased at auction. 

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Terms & Conditions

1. Some of the lots in this sale are offered subject to a reserve. The reserve is a confidential minimum price agreed upon by the consignor and Skinner, Inc. below which the lot will not be sold. In most cases, the reserve will be set below the estimated range, but in no case will it exceed the estimates listed. A representative of Skinner, Inc. will execute such reserves by bidding for the consignor. In any event and whether or not a lot is subject to a reserve, the auctioneer may reject any bid or raise not commensurate with the value of such lot.

2. All property is sold “as is,” and neither the auctioneer nor any consignor makes any warranties or representation of any kind or nature with respect to the property, and in no event shall they be responsible for the correctness, nor deemed to have made any representation or warranty, of description, genuineness, authorship, attribution, provenance, period, culture, source, origin, or condition of the property and no statement made at the sale, or in the bill of sale, or invoice or elsewhere shall be deemed such a warranty of representation or an assumption of liability.

3. Except as provided in paragraph 1 above, the highest bidder as determined by the auctioneer shall be the purchaser. In the case of a disputed bid, the auctioneer shall have sole discretion in determining the purchaser and may also, at his or her election, withdraw the lot or reoffer the lot for sale. The auctioneer shall have sole discretion to refuse any bid, or refuse to acknowledge any bidder. Any bidder that plans on spending in excess of $100,000 should make arrangements with the accounting department at least five (5) days in advance of the sale, as a deposit may be required to participate.

4. All merchandise purchased must be paid for and removed from the premises the day of the auction. Skinner Inc. may impose, and the purchaser agrees to pay, a monthly interest charge of 1.5% of the purchase price of any lot or item lot not paid for within thirty-five (35) days of the date of sale. Skinner, Inc. shall have no liability for any damage or loss to property left on its premises for more than three (3) days from the date of sale. If any property has not been removed within three (3) days from the date of sale, at the option of Skinner, Inc. (a) Skinner Inc., may impose, and the purchaser agrees to pay, a monthly storage charge of 1.5% of the purchase price of any lot or portion of a lot not removed within the three days, and/or (b) Skinner Inc. may place the merchandise in a subsequent auction, without Reserve, to be sold to the highest bidder, and after deducting the standard commission and any additional charges that may apply, remit the proceeds to the purchaser.

5. Skinner accepts cash or check for payment. Personal checks will be acceptable only if credit has been established with Skinner, Inc. or if a bank authorization has been received guaranteeing a personal check. Skinner, Inc. reserves the right to hold merchandise purchased by personal check until the check has cleared the bank. The purchaser agrees to pay Skinner, Inc. a handling charge of $25.00 for any check dishonored by the drawee. Please contact Accounting for additional payment methods. Skinner does not accept payment by credit card for merchandise purchases.

6. If the purchaser breaches any of its obligations under these Conditions of Sale, including its obligation to pay in full the purchase price of all items for which it was the highest successful bidder, Skinner Inc. may exercise all of its rights and remedies under the law including, without limitation, (a) canceling the sale and applying any payments made by the purchaser to the damages caused by the purchaser’s breach, and/or (b) offering at public auction, without reserve, any lot or item for which the purchaser has breached any of its obligations, including its obligation to pay in full the purchase price, holding the purchaser liable for any deficiency plus all costs of sale.

7. In no event will the liability of Skinner, Inc. to any purchaser with respect to any item exceed the purchase price actually paid by such purchaser for such item.

8. Shipping is the responsibility of the purchaser. Upon request, our staff will provide the list of shippers who deliver to destinations within the United States and overseas. Some property that is sold at auction can be subject to laws governing export from the U.S., such as items that include material from some endangered species. Import restrictions from foreign countries are subject to these same governing laws. Granting of licensing for import or export of goods from local authorities is the sole responsibility of the buyer. Denial or delay of licensing will not constitute cancellation or delay in payment for the total purchase price of these lots.

9. All purchases are subject to the Massachusetts 6.25% sales tax unless the purchaser possesses a Massachusetts sales tax exemption number. Exemption numbers from other states are accepted in Massachusetts if presented with a business card or letterhead. Dealers, museums, and other qualifying parties can apply for a Massachusetts exemption number prior to the auction by contacting the Massachusetts Department of Corporations and Taxation at 100 Cambridge Street in Boston.

10. A premium equal to 23% of the final bid price up to and including $100,000, plus 20% of the final bid price from $100,001 up to and including $1,000,000, plus 12% of the final bid price from $1,000,001 and over will be applied to each lot sold, to be paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price.

11. Bidding on any item indicates your acceptance of these terms and all other terms printed within, posted, and announced at the time of sale whether bidding in person, through a representative, by phone, by Internet, or other absentee bid.

12. Skinner, Inc. and its consignors make no warranty or representation, express or implied, that the purchaser will acquire any copyright or reproduction rights to any lot sold. Skinner, Inc. expressly reserves the right to reproduce any image of the lots sold in this catalog. The copyright in all images, illustrations and written material produced by or for Skinner, Inc. relating to a lot, including the contents of this catalog, is, and shall remain at all times, the property of Skinner, Inc. and shall not be used by the purchaser, nor by anyone else, without our prior written consent.

13. These conditions of sale shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (excluding the laws applicable to conflicts or choice of law). The buyer/bidder agrees that any suit for the enforcement of this agreement may be brought, and any action against Skinner in connection with the transactions contemplated by this agreement shall be brought, in the courts of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or any federal court sitting therein. The bidder/buyer consents to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts and waives objections that it may now or hereafter have to the venue of any such suit.

Revised January 8, 2014