The Townsend Collection, Part 1 - Prehistoric Art & Artifacts

Townsend Collection Artifact Auction

For over 30 years, Ripley Auctions (formally Antique Helper) has specialized in providing complete auction services for estates, collections and personal property of individuals on an international level. Ripley Auctions leverages multiple marketing channels, including catalogues, online marketing, traditional media, professional photography and more to help consigners get the most value for their lot. Online, absentee, in-person, and telephone bidding provides interested collectors with multiple channels of access to auction items. Watch this video to see how an auction process comes together. From inventory and vetting, to marketing, to the actual auction, The Townsend Collection auction provided collectors a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

See the First Townsend auction catalog Auction (December 3, 2011)  HERE.
See the catalog and results of the II Artifact Auction (June 23, 2012) HERE

View IBJ Press HERE

Purchase a Catalog :  $40
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Earl Townsend Important Artifact Collection II Auction Catalog
Professionally Designed and Photographed
This catalog represents an Important second auction that took place at Antique Helper Auctions on June 23rd, 2012 at 10am in Indianapolis, Indiana. There are 295 lots in this catalog that cover Birdstones, Dovetails, Pipes, Plummets, Bannerstones, Drills, Axes, Arrowheads and more. Please read the information below regarding this Very Important artifact collection and feel free to contact us with any questions. About the Townsend Collection: The singularly most significant collection of North American Prehistoric Art and Artifacts ever assembled. Presented as the second Townsend offering in the newly announced Dan Ripley Select Auction Series.Indianapolis resident Earl Townsend, Jr. was a widely-regarded attorney, philanthropist, patron of the arts, collector, author and historian. He was a pioneer in the early days of broadcasting and an award winning athlete. Among the many awards and accolades he received over his lifetime, Townsend was named to Council of Sagamores of the Wabash in 1960, and inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1981.Townsend, who died in 2007, was a passionate collector and historian of Native American artifacts. His impressive collection of prehistoric stone Indian artifacts remains one of the largest and best collections of its kind. As a historian, he was widely recognized as the world authority of Native American birdstones. His landmark book, Birdstones of the North American Indian, originally published in 1959, remains the premier reference book for birdstone study among collectors. Learn More About Earl Townsend and the Collection "The singularly most significant collection of North American Prehistoric Art and Artifacts ever assembled." Included in this once-in-a-lifetime auction event will be �The Smithsonian Bird,� a prehistoric porphyry granite birdstone that is considered the finest so far discovered. Presented as the second offering in the newly announced Dan Ripley Select Auction Series. Townsend Part II Lot list and descriptions LOT DESCRIPTION 1 Birdstone, Slate, Glacial Kame: 3 1/2 x 3/4 Noble Co. Indiana 2 Birdstone, Hardstone, Unfinished: 3 3/8 x 2 Kent Co. Michigan 3 Birdstone, Hardstone, Popeye: 3 3/8 x 1 1/8 4 Hopewell, Flint Ridge: 4 x 2 Morrow Co. Ohio 5 Thebes, Flint Ridge: 3 1/4 x 1 3/4 6 Snyders, Burlington: 2 3/4 x 2 1/8 Osage Co. Missouri 7 Plummet, Hematite: 2 7/8 x 1 8 Celt, Hematite: 2 1/2 x 2 3/4 Ohio 9 Pipe, Fossil Coral, Vase: 2 1/4 x 1 1/4 10 Birdstone, Slate, Animal: 2 7/8 x 3/4 RIchland Co. Ohio 11 Birdstone, Hardstone, Bust, Undrilled: 2 1/4 x 1 3/8 Wayne Co. Indiana 12 Birdstone, Slate, Popeye: 3 1/2 x 1 1/8 Wardsville, Ontario 13 Thebes, Coshocton: 3 1/2 x 1 1/2 14 Dovetail, Coshocton, Rechip: 4 3/8 x 1 1/2 Ohio 15 Stemmed Point, Pink Chert: 3 3/4 x 1 5/8 Cooper Co. Missouri 16 Lizard Effigy, Slate, Restored: 4 1/4 x 1 3/8 Hardin Co. Ohio 17 Boatstone, Hardstone, Undrilled: 3 1/2 x 1 1/4 Posey Co. Indiana 18 Pendant, Canal Coal: 3 5/8 x 1 5/8 19 Turkey Tail, Hornstone: 5 x 2 Dearborn Co. Indiana 20 Turkey Tail, Hornstone: 5 1/2 x 2 Dearborn Co. Indiana 21 Turkey Tail, Hornstone: 5 5/8 x 2 1/4 Dearborn Co. Indiana 22 Turkey Tail, Hornstone: 5 7/8 x 2 1/8 Dearborn Co. Indiana 23 Turkey Tail, Hornstone: 5 3/4 x 2 Dearborn Co. Indiana 24 Turkey Tail, Hornstone: 5 1/8 x 1 3/8 Dearborn Co. Indiana 25 Turkey Tail, Hornstone: 5 1/8 x 1 7/8 Dearborn Co. Indiana 26 Turkey Tail, Hornstone: 5 1/2 x 1 3/4 Dearborn Co. Indiana 27 Turkey Tail, Hornstone: 4 3/8 x 1 5/8 Dearborn Co. Indiana 28 Turkey Tail, Hornstone: 4 1/2 x 1 3/4 Dearborn Co. Indiana 29 Bannerstone, Slate, Double Bitted Axe: 4 x 2 Berrien Co. Michigan 30 Bar, Hardstone, Unfinished: 2 1/8 x 1 3/8 Pickaway Co. Ohio 31 Plummet, Hardstone: 3 3/8 x 1 1/8 Lincoln Co. Missouri 32 Birdstone, Slate, Popeye: 4 3/8 x 1 1/2 Henry Co. Ohio 33 Birdstone, Slate, Unfinished: 4 1/8 x 1 1/2 Bay Co. Michigan 34 Large Blade: 16 7/8 x 3 1/2 S.W. Missouri