Five Standout Antiquities and Textiles to Watch This Season

Collectors drawn to historic craftsmanship, cultural symbolism, and rare materials will find compelling opportunities among this curated group of objects. Spanning ancient Mesoamerica, early imperial China, and the textile traditions of the American Southwest, these works highlight the depth and diversity of the global art market. From jade carvings that once carried ritual meaning to sculptural bronzes and intricately woven pictorial rugs, each lot offers a distinctive glimpse into the artistic priorities of its time.

A Pre-Columbian jade plaque
Among the most significant highlights is an Olmec jade plaque dating to approximately 1000–600 B.C.E. Likely worn as a pendant, the plaque features two suspension holes along the top rim and is carved with the stylized forms of two Olmec deities facing one another. Between them, a speech scroll motif suggests communication, ritual dialogue, or divine exchange, a recurring symbolic device in ancient Mesoamerican visual language.
The plaque’s smooth surface and softly rounded contours speak to the extraordinary technical skill required to work jade with pre-industrial tools. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the work carries strong provenance, having passed through respected private collections and a noted fine art gallery. With an estimate of $20,000–$30,000, it stands as one of the most important early objects in this selection. 

Lot 79
Estimate: $20,000 - $30,000
Native American, Pre-Columbian, Tribal & Fine Art
Taos Auction Company
April 2, 2026

A Western Han bronze helmet
From another part of the ancient world comes a bronze helmet from China’s Western Han period, circa 2nd century B.C.E. Cast with a distinctive silhouette, the helmet features five dragon-spine-like ridges at the rear and stamped decorative motifs that reinforce its ceremonial presence. Scholars believe such helmets were worn not only for battlefield command but also during parades and displays of authority.
Mounted on a custom stand for presentation, the object reveals the refined bronze-casting traditions that flourished during the Han dynasty. The green patina, formed over centuries, contributes to its sculptural quality and historical authenticity. Estimated at $10,000–$15,000, the helmet offers collectors an opportunity to acquire an evocative artifact from one of China’s formative imperial eras. 

Lot 28
Estimate: $10,000 - $15,000
Native American, Pre-Columbian, Tribal & Fine Art
Taos Auction Company
April 2, 2026

A Pre-Columbian amethyst figure
Smaller in scale yet equally captivating is an Olmec amethyst figure dating to the same early period as the jade plaque. Carved as a standing male figure wearing a loincloth, the subject’s arms are crossed behind his back, a pose that has led scholars to interpret the figure as representing a priest or ritual participant.
The use of amethyst is particularly notable. Its rich purple tones add visual depth while signaling the symbolic importance of rare stones in ancient Mesoamerican cultures. The work’s layered provenance, including acquisition in the 1960s and subsequent private collections, enhances its desirability. With an estimate of $6,000–$8,000, it provides an accessible entry point for collectors interested in early sculptural traditions. 

Lot 80
Estimate: $6,000 - $8,000
Native American, Pre-Columbian, Tribal & Fine Art
Taos Auction Company
April 2, 2026

An Important pictorial Navajo (Dine) rug
Textile collectors will be drawn to a striking pictorial Navajo rug woven from handspun yarns. At its center is a large Yei figure rendered on a natural gray ground, distinguished by a red head and a brown cornstalk-like body. Surrounding feather and arrow motifs, along with geometric zigzag patterns in red, white, and brown, animate the composition and frame the spiritual subject.
The rug’s bold border of rectangular forms adds architectural structure, while its generous dimensions, approximately 62 by 58 inches, allow the design to unfold with clarity and balance. Estimated at $7,000–$9,000, this weaving exemplifies the powerful visual storytelling and symbolic vocabulary characteristic of Navajo textile traditions. 

Lot 410
Estimate: $7,000 - $9,000
Native American, Pre-Columbian, Tribal & Fine Art
Taos Auction Company
April 2, 2026

A Robert Scriver Herd Bull bronze
Completing the group is a mid-20th-century bronze by Robert Macfie Scriver titled Herd Bull. Cast in 1959 and finished in a dark brown patina, the sculpture depicts an American bison in a grounded stance, its muscular form and thick mane emphasized through heavily textured surfaces. Signed, dated, and editioned 4/110, the work also bears the stamp of Arrowhead Bronze Works.
Scriver’s sculpture captures both the physical power and cultural symbolism of the bison in the American West. With an estimate of $10,000–$15,000, the piece appeals to collectors of Western art as well as those interested in postwar bronze casting. 

Lot 374
Estimate: $10,000 - $15,000
Native American, Pre-Columbian, Tribal & Fine Art
Taos Auction Company
April 2, 2026

Together, these five works illustrate the extraordinary breadth of collecting categories, from ancient ritual objects and imperial military regalia to Indigenous textiles and modern Western bronzes. Each object reflects not only technical mastery but also the cultural narratives embedded in material form. For seasoned buyers and emerging collectors alike, this selection offers a compelling opportunity to engage with art history across continents and centuries, underscoring the enduring appeal of objects that bridge time, place, and tradition.

View the full auction catalog and register to bid on Bidsquare.com.