North American Auction Company
Live Auction

Legends of the West: Western & Native American Sale

Sat, Sep 23, 2023 11:00AM EDT
Lot 172

Robert Dickens (1931-2022) Painting & Award 1982

Estimate: $2,500 - $5,000

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$50 $10
$100 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$30,000 $2,500
$50,000 $5,000
$100,000 $10,000
This is an outstanding, large, award winning, original oil on stretched canvas painting by Robert Lee Dickens (1931-2022). In 1982, the painting received the Grumbacher Award with newspaper documentation, and it was previously listed in The Art Institute of Chicago. This painting includes the original Grumbacher Art Award that was awarded for this painting at the Wind River Valley Artist's Guild, 34th National Art Exhibition. As well as a framed newspaper article with a full page write up on Dickens with the main photo being of him and this painting. The painting is of Robert Dickens's wife wearing an articulated crane hat from Kwakwaka'wakw artist, Don Lelooska. The crane hat is crafted of cedar and shows a polychrome coloration of red, black, and blue in traditional Kwakwaka'wakw geometric patterns to the wings and face of the crane. The head of the crane moves from sided to side with a string that is strung through the neck and the wings and the mouth opens and closes with a string that runs through the bottom of the hat. Robert's wife looks over her shoulder towards the viewer with a stoic look on her face. She is pulling on a sting from the hat, opening the mouth of the bird. She is also wearing a large fur scarf around her neck with colors of brown and rust orange. The bottom of the painting reads, "Mamook Hehe Kalakaka TumTum Klootchman" in orange paint. In the bottom right hand corner of the painting is the artist's signature reading, "Dickens '82". In the bottom middle slipped between the painting and the frame is a gold colored plaque reading, "Laughing Bird Spirit Lady". The award plaque reads, "The Grumbacher Art Award / Wind River Valley Artists' Guild 34th National Art Exhibition 1982 / Presented to Robert Dickens" on the silver colored plate. The award sits in gorgeous hardwood case against a blue felt background. The newspaper article is framed and tells about Robert Dickens' life and his heritage, featuring photos of him, his artwork and a photo he took. The artwork and frame show good condition with some slight wear to the frame from use over the years, but no signs of obvious damage are noted. The back of the painting has the original exhibition tag still attached on the back which is marked, “Eightyith Exhibition by Artists of Chicago and Vicinity. The Art Institute of Chicago March-May 1984 Artist: Robert Lee Dickens Address: 714 N. Linden Avenue City State: Oak Park, IL 60302 Title: Mamook He He Kala Kala Tim Tim Klootchman (Laughing Bird Spirit Lady) Oil on Canvas Dickens Design Group 13 W. Grand Avenue Chicago, IL 60610”. Robert Lee Dickens was an American design executive, art designer and artist. Some of his art design work included Coca-Cola, General Mills, Anheuser-Busch, One-A-Day Vitamins as well as receiving the First Master Dairy Association 1983 award, Wind River Valley National Art Exhibit 1980 award, Grumbacher Award 1982, and the Cleo award. This painting was truly his masterpiece kept in his personal collection and private Livingston, Montana Gallery until his death. The painting measures 63" L x 43 1/8" W. The painting is a portrait of his wife wearing the original Native American mask, the very same mask being sold in this sale. The plaque measures 12" L x 8 15/16" W, while the framed newspaper measures 11 3/16" L x 14 1/8" W.*

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