March in Montana auction grosses more than $2 million

Manitou Galleries and the Coeur d’Alene Art Auction on Friday announced that the 28th annual March in Montana 700-lot auction held at the Townhouse Inn during Western Art Week grossed $2,019,370.

This year’s auction is the second most successful in the show’s history, behind the $2.4 million sale in 2008, and experienced a no-sale rate of less than 5 percent, which is well below the current average no-sale rate at auctions, according to a release from Manitou Galleries.

The two-day auction boasted a large number of bronzes, paintings, cowboy artifacts and Native American material.

Highlights of the Native American items that were sold include a 19th century Crow girl’s dress decorated with more than 300 elk teeth that sold for $13,800. A Yakima toddler’s dress sold for $4,600.

Two C.M. Russell pieces sold for more than their cost estimate, including a bronze called “Smoking with the Spirit of the Buffalo,” which sold for $4,025, and “Old Man and Young Man” pair of bronze plaques that sold for $1,495.

Bronzes by Bob Scriver, Joe Halko, Vic Payne and Dave McGary also sold for high prices in the auction.

The Payne bronze, “Restless in Santa Fe,” was estimated to sell for between $6,000 and $9,000. Its sale price of $21,850 is the highest price a Payne bronze has yet been sold for, according to Manitou Galleries’ release.

A wood carving by John Clarke, “Mountain Goat,” sold for $16,100, three times its high estimate.

A portfolio of Frederic Remington 1904 prints sold for $2,645, well over its price estimate. Andy Thomas’ “Crazy Horse at the Little Bighorn” sold for $63,250. O.C. Seltzer’s “The Blackfoot Scouts” sold for $51,750.

Carl Rungius’ “Caribou,” estimated to sell for between $25,000 and $35,000, eventually fetched $48,875, the highest price paid at this year’s auction.

The Springfield carbine 45-70 caliber rifle that is 83 numbers away from a confirmed rifle used at the Battle of the Little Bighorn sold for $8,625, below its low estimate of $10,000.

A collection of seven silver saddles sold well, with four selling above their low price estimate.