Woven basket brings in more than 5 times its presale auction estimate in Denver

WHAT: When a woven California basket estimated to sell at auction for $1,000 to $1,500 soars to $9,375, that’s news. And it happened last month in an “Arts of the American West” sale at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers in Denver. Identified as a California basket made by a Mono Lake Paiute artisan, the ovoid basket is modest in size, measuring roughly 5 inches high by 8 inches wide.

The tribe, part of the Northern Paiute, still lives near Mono Lake in eastern California. Several area tribes are celebrated for their basketry, and collector interest has caused prices to climb.

MORE: Native California basket makers from the 1800s to the 1930s created coiled and twined baskets known for their strength and watertight qualities. Large coil baskets involved ferns and grasses, willow, pine and other woody materials. Some were so tight that they were used for cooking. Other natural materials such as redbuds provided color for designs.

SMART COLLECTORS KNOW: Early baskets were artistic products made by traditional weavers and were prized by members of the tribe. Makers had unique status within the group. As native cultures assimilated, the best California baskets became prized by collectors.

As a result, they have become rarer with the passage of time. Good condition examples like this are few and far between.

HOT TIP: According to the auction house, the high result happened because of the basket’s remarkable condition. That’s how market dynamics work: The best of any kind finds its own level at auction.

BOTTOM LINE: The previous sentence says it all. In most categories, top-quality items consigned to a well-advertised auction attract worldwide bidders. The result is top dollar.

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