One of the most impressive, private collections of Pre-Columbian gold and
Native American art will be offered at auction in New York City by Heritage
Auction Galleries of Dallas, Texas on September 29, 2006. Most of the items in
the collection of Gary Hendershott of Little Rock, Arkansas, have been off the
market for decades.

“The Hendershott collection of Pre-Columbian and
Native American art embraces an exceptional range of cultures and time periods,”
said Edmund P. Pillsbury, Ph.D., Managing Director of Fine and Decorative Arts
for Heritage in a recent press release.

Highlights are ancient gold, the
earliest weavings made in the Americas, and Maya jades of the highest quality.
The Native American collection includes impressive examples of Classic Navajo
weavings and Classic chiefs’ blankets, and a broad selection of Plains Indian
items, including war shirts, war shields, tomahawks, and Indian weaponry from
the Comanche and Kiowa of the Southern Plains to the Cheyenne & Sioux of the
Northern Plains

“I’ve always been a collector; I cannot remember not
being a collector,” said Hendershott. ” I started, as did most kids, collecting
stamps and coins. When I was a teenager, I had the great good fortune to meet
Erga Gartenberg, who immigrated to America from war-torn Europe with nothing
more than the clothes on his back and his stamp collection. He shared his
knowledge with me and became my mentor in collecting.”

“Ancient coins
gave me a natural interest in ancient civilizations, and the beauty of ancient
Greek and Roman gold coins piqued my interest in ancient American gold,”
Hendershott said. “Stamps provided me with a ready window on world cultures.
From there, it wasn’t hard to develop a passionate interest in the art of the
early Americans. Collecting their art has given me a fascinating insight into
man’s earliest history.”

“I climbed my first pyramid at the age of 18 in
Chichén Itzá,” Hendershott recalled, “and I’ve been intrigued by
the art of that region ever since, just as I am sure the first Spaniards must
have been when they saw the first Americans wearing ‘mirrors of gold.’ It is
bold, beautiful work that captures both the eye and the imagination of anyone
who comes in contact with it.”

John Lunsford, Curator Emeritus of the
Dallas Museum of Art, is the author of a scientific catalog that will accompany
the sale. He stated: “This outstanding collection is strongest in gold artwork,
primarily from Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, and Peru, dating from approximately
100 AD to 1500 AD. The images represented in the Hendershott Collection are
unusual and intriguing, and were used for virtually every purpose in the lives
of the creators, from periodic ritual use to everyday wear. Also of key
importance as personal and prestige items are the Maya jades and the great
Peruvian weavings, which display a stunning range of color and textile
techniques. These textiles date between 300 BC and 1500 AD.”

Hendershott
also developed an interest in Native American art at an early age.

“I
found my first arrowhead on our family farm at the age of eight and that,
coupled with my love of Western movies, particularly those featuring John Wayne,
and my own Native American heritage – I’m part Creek Indian on my father’s side
– led me to explore this fascinating field.”

Richard Pohrt, Jr., a
leading expert on historic Native American art, stated: “Collecting Native
American art has been an expanding field since the mid-1970s. The Hendershott
Collection strongly reflects Gary’s personal tastes and his lifelong interests
and is filled with museum-quality objects. It is remarkable for such a fine
collection to come available at public auction.” Pohrt called attention to “an
amazing and complete ledger book filled with 30 drawings by the Sioux artist
Walter Bone Shirt” dating from the late 19th century.

“I’d strongly
recommend that everyone with an interest in the art and history of early America
call or e-mail to receive your copy of this impressive catalogue that will serve
as a reference book for future generations. Also be sure to check our website
regularly,” said Dr. Pillsbury.

Complete details on the event can be
found at www.HeritageAuctions.com.