| Category: | Auctions - Jewellery part 2 & Silverware |
|---|---|
| Position: | Id: 27135174 · Catalog number: 09-02156 · Ware in house 1 |
| Termin: | Auction at 25.09.2026 · Begin: 13:00:00 Balance time 22 days and 14 hours and 17 minutes Preview: 15.09.26 |
| Limit: | 3.150,- € |
| Beschreibung | 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. |
