Catalog no: 09-02156
Id: 27135174
Jewellery part 2 & Silverware
Auction at 25.09.26
Begin: 01.00 PM (CEST)
Preview from 15.09.26
Ware in HENRY´s house 1
Jeffrey Castillo (b. 1949) Collection of 21 Kachina figures, USA, 1998 , Sterling
silver, each figure signed "Jeffrey Castillo", "JC", "Sterling", and inscribed with
the name of the respective Kachina. From a German private collection, acquired as
a complete ensemble in 1998; accompanied by the original purchase receipt in the
amount of US$ 5,096.95. This remarkable collection of twenty-one Kachina figures
represents one of the most significant ensembles of contemporary Native American
silverwork. All sculptures were created by the Diné (Navajo) silversmith Jeffrey
Castillo (b. 1949), who has earned particular recognition for his finely crafted
figural silver sculptures. While Navajo silversmithing has traditionally been associated
primarily with jewelry, Castillo translated the rich iconography of the Hopi and
Zuni Kachina traditions into the medium of sterling silver, producing works of exceptional
artistic and technical accomplishment. The figures display masterful repoussé, chasing,
and engraving, with meticulously executed surfaces and an extraordinary attention
to detail in the rendering of masks, ceremonial costumes, and ritual attributes.
With a combined weight of approximately 1.38 kg of sterling silver, the ensemble
also reflects the substantial material investment and outstanding quality of craftsmanship.
Each Kachina embodies a distinct spiritual being or natural force and fulfills a
specific role within the ceremonial traditions of the Pueblo peoples, serving as
a mediator between the human and spiritual worlds. Castillo's sculptures combine
ethnographic sensitivity with exceptional silversmithing skills and are today regarded
as highly desirable works within the field of Native American art. The collection
comprises the following Kachinas: Eagle, Zuni Warrior, Aholi, Butterfly Maiden, Chasing
Star, Devil Dancer, Home Dancer, Sun Face, Mountain Sheep, Hopi Shalako, Mudhead
(Koyemsi), Deer, White Ogre, Crow Mother, LongHorn, Early Morning Singer, Antelope,
Left- Handed, Hummingbird, Owl and Zuni Shalako. Particularly note worthy is the
thematic breadth of the ensemble, encompassing protective, fertility, animal, ceremonial,
anddance Kachinas. Its scope, integrity, documented provenance, and remarkable consistency
of quality lend the collection an almost museum-quality character. Comparable groups
by Jeffrey Castillo appear only rarely on the international auction market, where
hisworks are typically offered as individual sculptures or in small groups. As such,
this collection presents an exceptional opportunityfor collectors and institutions
alike to acquire an almost encyclopedic survey of the artist's work.
Limit 3.150,- €