James Compton Gallery Blog

An Early Rio Grande Pueblo Kilt

This very early kilt showed up at a sale here in Santa Fe.  While it appears to be Hopi in pattern, construction, and materials, it’s possible that the attribution could be a broader scope of Rio Grande Pueblos.  My approximate dating on this piece...

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The James Compton Gallery Expanded!

The restaurant adjacent asked me if I wanted more space.  We both have the same landlord, and the restaurant had dead space adjacent to my wall that they no longer wanted to pay rent for.  I was busting out of my seams with my...

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Of Banded Blankets and Finding God

A New Find A beautiful and early banded, Navajo blanket came into my gallery last week. My understanding on this type of blanket puts the date around the middle 19th century, perhaps earlier.  It measures 65” by 45.5” and has four colors, natural white,...

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My life on Burro Alley, Past and Present

I really enjoy being here on Burro Alley, for many reasons.  The history and charm are the main reasons, but there are others as well.  I like being on the edge of what we call downtown, and not in the heart/heat of it.   My...

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Today – 8/14/20 – Begins both the Virtual and Actual Walk and Sale of Historic Native and Tribal Art

Today marks the beginning of our original Walk and Sale of Historic Native and Tribal Art in the Santa Fe area.  Go to our website to download the Gallery Map for participating dealers:  https://santafeaugust2020.com/, and you can go directly to the Event Map here:...

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Virtual Walk and Sale of Historic Native and Tribal Art

What started out to be a Walk and Sale in Santa Fe, NM for historic Native and Tribal art, has now become a Virtual Walk and Sale.  We had all the hopes that a gallery walk, from August 14 to the 18, would be...

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Repatriating a Found Zuni War God Plank

I purchased this carved wooden plank about 1.5 years ago out of a West coast auction.  I had no idea what it was, but could tell right away that it had a lot of energy in it – the shape, the condition of the...

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Two Early Rio Grande Blankets

Nothing gets me more excited than discovering early textiles of the Southwest. I’m not talking about late 19th or even mid 19th century blankets. I’m talking more like 17th (none are known to exist through documentation) and 18th as well as early 19th century...

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Social Distancing on Top of Deception Peak

What a great way to get out and about! I was guided up to the top of Deception Peak (12,343′) just outside of Santa Fe, NM by my friend Daniel Vernay.  We started out with crampons for the majority of the climb, then transferred...

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A Recent Acquisition – Cree Pipe Bag, Circa 1870 – 1880

Item #: 657 Origin: Cree Date: Last Quarter 19th C., likely 1870 – 1880 Media: Glass beads on hide Dimensions: 19″ without fringe, 6″ wide, 29.5″ with fringe Description:  This Cree pipe bag has two strongly different designs.  The first includes two, elongated tracks,...

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