Leslie Hindman Auctioneers' November 13th Arts of the American West auction was lively and successful despite the early winter weather that hit the Front Range. While temperatures plummeted, prices soared with strong bidding on property in all categories. Fresh to the market estate consignments made the results of this auction remarkable with prices reaching far beyond presale expectations in many instances. Over 500 lots were sold and the auction house is reporting a 93% sell through.

"The room was crowded with hundreds of bidders registered in person and online," said Annie McLagan, managing director of the Denver regional office. "Their enthusiasm was a reflection of our growth in the Arts of the American West category. It is gratifying to see that our clients are responding to our commitment to bring quality property to the market."

Thomas C. Molesworth furniture from a Greeley, Colorado estate topped the highlight list when the two club chairs, reputedly from the Historic Plains Hotel, realized $55,000 bid against an estimate of $15,000/25,000. The Molesworth sofa from the same collection brought $32,500 with a presale estimate of $10,000/15,000.

Among the top lots for fine art was an oil painting, American Portrait with Santa Fe Headdress, by Fritz Scholder that sold for $20,000 against a presale estimate of $10,000/15,000. The southwestern jewelry session included two silver and turquoise tufa cast bracelets by Charles Loloma that each sold for $12,500. The selection of Navajo textiles was particularly strong. Among the highlights from the Genesee Country Museum in Mumford, New York was a Germantown Moki style serape, sold for $12,500. Other highlights include a Navajo third phase chief's blanket which fetched $18,375 and a silver and gold mounted and tooled leather show saddle by Nolte-Olson, circa 1940, which carried a presale estimate of $8,000/12,000 but sold for $21,250. Another silver mounted parade saddle made for S. Rae Hickok by Hollywood Saddlery Ltd. sold for $10,625.

Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ regional office in Denver, Colorado opened in 2012. The success of this sale speaks to both the quality of consignments and interested buyers in this market. We are pleased to have a similar Arts of the American West sale scheduled for March 5, 2015 for which we are currently accepting consignments. For further information, please contact the Denver office at 303.825.1855 or visit our website at www.lesliehindman.com.