It must have taken meticulous, painstaking effort, along with an abundance of patience, to put a large prehistoric pottery bowl back together presented at a recent JP Auction Service event. Auctioneer John Petroelje told the crowd at the auction where the pottery was put on the block that the piece was found during an excavation for a foundation. When discovered, the construction was abruptly halted and the pieces of the pottery were unearthed by hand. The end result was a large, reconstructed bowl believed to be early Indian pottery.

Additional information from the consignor indicated that this piece was from either the Anasazi or Mimbres Indians and probably dated from 400 to 1200 A.D. Both of these peoples were from the southwestern area of the United States. The Anasazi were the ancestors of the modern Pueblo peoples and were located in the present-day Four Corners area of the southwest United States which is crossed by the modern borders of the states of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado. The Mimbres peoples were located in small villages in southern New Mexico.

It is fortunate that the person who was responsible for this piece recognized the random pieces in that excavation for what they were. This interesting piece of history crossed the block for $800.

Another pottery bowl, much smaller, was also from an ancient Indian tribe from the Southwest. Information provided that it was either made by the Chaco or Cochiti Indians, both of whom lived in the Southwest, primarily in New Mexico. This smaller bowl sold for $110.

From the Northwest Coast Indians there was a large round tray. In very good condition, this piece crossed the block for $320. Other Indian pottery pieces included redware pottery from the San Carlos Indians, jars and bottles from the Navajo Indians from Arizona, and a pottery bowl from the Jemez Indians from New Mexico. Most of these pieces sold for $30 to $65.

Bannerstones, North American prehistoric stone implements that are in the form of a double-edged ax and have a notch or hole, sold for $140 and a banded slate butterfly banner stone earned $150.

From the Apache Indians there were two water containers resulting in winning bids of $180 for the large one which came from San Carlos, N.M.; the price of $210 was paid for a smaller one.

There was an abundance of baskets at this event, including a Zia basket from New Mexico that sold for $50; Apache baskets decorated with faces that earned $90 and $45; and a tall woven black ash three-color basket from a Michigan Indian tribe that sold for $65. Also selling for $65 was an Eskimo round lidded three-color basket while a black ash lidded basket with multi loops from the Abenaki Indians in Quebec earned $50. There were also baskets from the Hopi Indians, ones from the Mohawk Indians in New York, and a handled nut basket that came from the Cherokee Indians.

Meticulously carved icons were presented, these kachinas and ceremonial kachinas are kept in the Hopi and Zuni home, and are used to teach the children about their religion. There were a few Zuni kachina "dolls" presented and they sold for $40 to $55.

Kalamazoo, Mich., was the home of the Gibson Guitar Company. These are the guitars used by many Country and Western musicians and, through the years, many, if not most, of the well-known Country and Western stars used a Gibson guitar. The old manufacturing plant is now the home to many small artisans including a cabinetmaker, art studios, and a glass-blowing studio. The 1961 Gibson Melody Maker guitar at this auction was one which had been made in Kalamazoo and is highly desirable in the music world. The final bid for this piece was $520.

For those who were not interested in the Indian-related items there were several pieces of furniture from which to choose. An old oak china cabinet with wavy glass doors sold for $325; a small drop-leaf lady’s desk, complete with its key saw $50; and an old oak washstand from a hotel in Louisville, Kentucky sold for $70.

An old bedroom set included a full-size headboard, a nightstand and an Eastlake dresser with a marble top and candle shelves sold for $140. A Victorian marble-top dresser with hand-cut dovetails and original hardware crossed the block for $200; a drop-leaf secretary-bookcase saw $150; and a walnut chest from the late 1800s sold for $110.

Among the oak commodes, one with a black marble top sold for $80; an Eastlake chest with a mirror and spoon carving earned $100; and a Mission-style oak desk saw a final bid of $115.

In addition to the items mentioned there were several other pieces of furniture and a good selection of smalls - glassware, jewelry - from which to choose and to add to your collection(s).

One of the delightful moments in this auction was when Zach Petroelje, John’s son, stopped by to lend a hand for a while. Zach is now in the Air Force and stationed at Luke Air Force base in Arizona. However, if he is home on leave and his father has an auction in progress you can count on Zach to turn up for a while and help out.

JP Auction Service holds auctions of all types - consignment, on-site estates, and real estate. You can usually find most of the family working at an auction in some capacity. Brenda, John’s wife, can be found registering attendees and checking them out with the assistance of John’s mother. John’s father, Jut, can be found helping out wherever he is needed, and John’s daughters help with the food, running bid sheets and brother Dan with be one of the ringmen with an occasional stint on the block. Jack Koeman, John’s uncle is the clerk. If you are considering having an auction or have items you would like to consign to one you can contact John at 616-396-5950 or 616-396-3588. You can also check out his website which is www.jpauctionservice.com and watch for ads for his upcoming auctions in The Auction Exchange and Collectors News.