Sharing my items is a great way to learn about the Native story. My goal is to meet and connect with you in a way that promotes our mutual interest in beautiful objects created by those who came well before us.
My sister Candace Compton Pappas is having a show here in Santa Fe at the Shelby house from April 18 to May 2. I own several of her pieces and love having them in my home. Anyone that comes to my house admires them and always wants to know more about the artist and I’m […]
This Wonderful Norwegian blanket has similarities to the early classic Navajo blankets. The colors are the same with golden white, strong red and deep indigo blue. I was compelled to acquire this blanket both because of the similarities as well as the beauty of this specific example. In addition to the colors, the weavers stepping […]
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, or a combination of both colors. Wampum was used as a […]
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 – the Alley comes out right where the Palace turns into […]
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 bowl may have been for ceremonial use. The bottom of the […]
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 brown. The blue represents the indigo used as a dye for […]
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 background white is a soft creamy white. Bands of arrows are […]
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 as well as its place in American History. This wool blanket […]
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 going back to the arrival of the Spaniards to North America […]
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 ply natural white and the weft natural white, brown and white […]
