4577

EDWARD SHERRIFF CURTIS

Washington/California, 1868-1952

"The Oath -- Apsaroke", 1908.

Signed "Curtis" and with a copyright symbol lower right. Curtis Los Angeles studio and title labels verso. Housed in the original batwing frame.
Orotone, 9.5" x 7.5". Framed 13.5" x 11.25".
Condition: No obvious damages.

The absence of a condition report does not imply an object is free of defects. All items may have normal signs of age and wear commensurate with their age; these issues will likely not be mentioned in the condition report. Please contact Eldred's before the auction with any condition questions. Questions about condition will not be answered after purchase. Condition reports are provided as a courtesy, and we are not responsible for any errors or omissions. Important note on frames: Frames are not guaranteed to be in the same condition as they are in the item photograph. Due to handling and shipping, many frames, especially antique ones, are prone to losses. If you have questions about the condition of a frame, please contact us prior to the auction. 

  • Provenance:
    The Property of a Gentleman: The Estate of Peter Goldstein.

    Notes:
    Orotones, also known as D'Orotones or goldtones, are positive images printed on glass and backed with a golden metallic coating. This lustrous reflective coating, combined with the natural refraction of the glass, provides an exceptional translucency and sense depth to the image, "as full of life and sparkle as an opal," as Curtis said in 1919. He marketed them as "Curt-Tones" and they are the most desirable and valuable of all his prints.

    Curtis is sometimes credited with inventing the orotone technique, but the process he used was based upon well-known methods of creating images on glass. The "Curt-Tone" method seems to have been perfected sometime in the second half of 1918, and in February of the following year, Curtis held his first exhibition of orotone prints in Los Angeles.

    The style was particularly suited to Curtis's images of Native Americans. He made his first portrait of a Native American in 1895, when he photographed Princess Angeline, also known as Kickisomlo, the daughter of Chief Sealth of Seattle. Curtis was part of expeditions to Alaska in 1899 and the the Blackfoot Confederacy in Montana in 1900, and then was awarded $75,000 by J.P. Morgan to produce a 20-volume series "The North American Indian", an epic project that lasted more than 20 years. Curtis traveled the United States and visited at least 80 tribes, documenting tribal history, biographies, traditional foods, housing, garments, recreation and ceremonial customs through more than 10,000 recordings of Native American language and music and 40,000 photographic images.

    Curtis was largely forgotten at the time of his death, though interest in his work was revived in the 1970s. While his work is considered a precursor in visual anthropology, some criticize him for conforming to cultural archetypes of the romanticized "noble savage" and the tragically "vanishing race". Regardless, when judged by the standards of his era, Curtis was sensitive and open to Native American culture, and his work left an enduring mark on the history of photography.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

We require prompt payment and removal of your purchases as stated in Paragraph 12 of the Conditions of Sale. If you plan to pick up your purchases, please call ahead and we'll make every effort to have your items ready. Our physical address is 1483 Route 6A, East Dennis, MA. Pick up of smaller items at our Mystic, CT location is also available with advance notice.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to provide shipping quotes until the invoice had been paid in full.
In house shipping is offered exclusively though UPS. All items are shipped with UPS insurance (max. $50,000). UPS insurance is billed at $2.70 for the first $100 and at $0.90 per hundred afterwards. Eldred's charges a minium $15 handling fee per package plus actual UPS shipping charges.
COLLECTION OF PURCHASES: Delivery or shipping arrangements must be made within seven (7) days from the close of the auction for all purchases. All items must be removed from Eldred's facilities within fourteen (14) days of the end of the auction. All items remaining after fourteen days may be subject to a $5/per item/per day storage fee. No items will be released unless storage fees are paid in full. Items remaining over thirty (30) days from the close of the auction may be sold for the buyer's account minus auction and storage fees.

February 28, 2024 9:30 AM EST
East Dennis, MA, US

Eldred's

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of up to 26% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $49 $5
$50 $99 $10
$100 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $2,999 $100
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $29,999 $1,000
$30,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000