Wampum!
- by Jamie Compton
- in A closer look...
- posted March 21, 2019
I’ve loved wampum for years. I’m fascinated about its history, evolution and its uses. Wampum is a bead made out of shell from either the channeled whelk shell or the quahog or Western North Atlantic hard-shelled clam. The beads produced are either white, purple,...
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Burro Alley in Santa Fe, NM
- by Jamie Compton
- in Uncategorized
- posted March 16, 2019
The James Compton Gallery is on Burro Alley, 28 Burro Alley to be precise. This is a historic street in Santa Fe, NM, and now exists as a pedestrian walking street with access at the north end to West Palace Avenue (actually Sandoval Street...
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Old Hopi Bowl
- by Jamie Compton
- in New Gallery Item
- posted March 15, 2019
This Hopi bowl, dating from the late 19th to early 20th century, measures 9.5″ in diameter and 4″ tall. The patina on the surface is a rich butter honey color. The red center is a rarely seen design element, making me consider that this...
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Gallery Signage is up!
- by Jamie Compton
- in Gallery News
- posted March 9, 2019
Thanks to my designer John Pappas of www.12acrestudio.com and to my maker and installer Peter Tengler of https://artmanproductions.com, my gallery signage is up and ready to show itself! The background for the main sign is topped with deep blue and the bottom with dark...
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An Optical Navajo Rug
- by Jamie Compton
- in A closer look...
- posted March 7, 2019
This is one of my earliest Navajo weaving purchases and remains one of my most favorite. The rug is fine and thin, almost a blanket weight, and measures 87″ x 52″. The simple border is an un-dyed natural brown color with wonderful variations. The...
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Civil War Blanket Owned By Samuel G. Gilbreth
- by Jamie Compton
- in Art History
- posted February 27, 2019
This banded blanket was owned and carried by Samuel G. Gilbreth, 1st company of Massachusetts Sharpshooters, and was passed down the family to its present state in my gallery. Blankets in general interest me, but this one particularly stands out considering its beautiful simplicity...
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Rio Grande Blankets
- by Jamie Compton
- in Art Collecting Art History
- posted February 21, 2019
A Brief History of Rio Grande Blankets Rio Grande blankets are more rare than Navajo blankets. These blankets are becoming more popular as collectors recognize that these objects have their own niche in the world of fine weaving. The Spanish Colonialists made these blankets...
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Navajo Chief’s Blanket
- by Jamie Compton
- in New Gallery Item
- posted February 17, 2019
I’ve just added a Navajo chief’s blanket to the collection and this item is for sale. The price is $45,000. This blanket dates to around 1875 and measures 58 by 74 inches. The warp and weft are all wool; the warp being a single...
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Collecting and Letting Go
- by Jamie Compton
- in My Thoughts on Native Art
- posted February 8, 2019
My psychology in collecting art has a fundamental rule that I follow with some variations. The rule is this: collecting something requires letting go of something else. The practical dilemma here is that I can’t keep everything because my resources are limited and the...
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Why I Collect Native American Indian Art
- by Jamie Compton
- in Art Collecting
- posted December 19, 2018
If dying is as important as being born, then we, the European-based North American culture, have lost the path in getting there. If this path was lost because we have left our rooted homeland for North America, then adopting the Native American culture is...
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