Tohono Chul is a unique urban desert garden with nature trails and cultural programs. In the 1980s, the Wilsons established Tohono Chul, a 37-acre parcel of land, to protect and preserve a piece of the Sonoran Desert, and donated 65 pieces from Suzanne Colton Wilson’s collection to establish Tohono Chul’s Permanent Collection. Today, we have grown to 49 acres with a collection of over 350 objects.
Over the years, unique vintage objects from five collections have been gifted but not accessioned into the Tohono Chul Permanent Collection and are now available for purchase. The Collections Corner helps support the gardens, galleries, and programs with 100% of each sale going directly to Tohono Chul. The Collections Corner offers a rare opportunity to acquire museum-quality artwork, jewelry, and objects.
The Elinor Lamont Hallowell Collection of Patriotic Native American Art
In United States history, the American flag has been infused with a great many ideologies, serving as a medium for solidarity, personal expression and social commentary. Through a variety of patriotic Native American artworks donated to Tohono Chul by Elinor Lamont Hallowell, these pieces provided a unique view of the American flag and the inextricable nature of symbolism and the human experience.
Mrs. Hallowell participated in several of Tohono Chul’s travel Ed-ventures, visiting locations throughout Arizona and New Mexico. What began as a casual interest soon developed into a passionate pursuit. This diverse collection, exhibited at Tohono Chul in 2014, includes works created by Sioux, Navajo, Iroquois and other Native American artisans, all of whose motivation has sprung from different experiences and events in American history.
Lidded Makah Basket
Lidded basket with United States flag design by Unknown Makah Artist
Beaded Pouch
Beaded pouch with United States flag, eagle and flower designs by Unknown Cree Artist
Ride to Live – Live to Ride
Carved and painted wooden Navajo woman riding a motorcycle by Navajo artist Delbert Buck
Flag Messenger
Mild steel feather on a triangular base, painted with United States flag motif by Hopi artist Bryson Nequatewa
Child’s Beaded Vest, 1890
Pictorial, fully beaded, buckskin vest by Unknown Sioux Artist
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Teepee Ornament
Carved and painted teepee with stars and stripes by Unknown Navajo Artist
Beaded Moccasins
Beaded white deer skin moccasins by Unknown Cheyenne Artist
SOLD
Eagle Claw Pipe, Stem & Tamper
Pipestone carved eagle claw pipe with wood carved stem by Oglala Lakota artist Alan Monroe
Beaded Whimsy with Flags, Eagle, and Flower Designs
Spade shaped stuffed whimsy with beaded eagle holding two United States flags with a flower above made from turquoise colored beads by Unknown Iroquois Artist
United States Flag Steer Skull
Patriotic steer by Apache artist I.M.R. Arkadie
Pictorial Beaded Holster
Fringed leather holster with pictorial bead work by Unknown Sioux Artist
Pair of Beaded Child’s Cuffs
Cuffs with snap closure by Unknown Plateau Artist
United States Flag Belt Buckle
Silver belt buckle with inset beaded United States flag by Navajo artist Timothy Tsosie
Eagle and Flag Hair Barrette
Beaded hair barrette depicting an eagle head against a United States flag by Navajo artist Jayne White
Beaded Bag with Stars and Stripes Design
White deer skin rectangular beaded bag by Blackfeet artist Danelle Valandra
Star Shaped Whimsy with an Eagle and Flags
Six-pointed star pin cushion whimsy filled with sawdust by Unknown Iroquois Artist
Beaded Pouch
Beaded pouch with United States flag, eagle and flower designs by Unknown Cree Artist
Geronimo Doll with Flag Wrap
Geronimo figure by Dine (Navajo) / Filipino artist Rita Iringan
Geronimo Doll with Flag and Toy Gun
Geronimo figure Dine (Navajo) / Filipino artist Rita Iringan
Eagle Dancer
Cherokee Eagle Dancer with an American flag by Cherokee artist Jesse T. Hummingbird
The David and Lura Lovell Collection
After selling their profitable companies, David and Lura Lovell established a family foundation to help support the mental health industry based on the decades of work Lura has done on behalf of their son and others. The foundation was a lifelong dream of the Lovell’s and continues today to invest in non-profit organizations that support people and programs that empower lives, provide opportunities, improve conditions, and advance community.
Lura also had a love and appreciation of the Desert Southwest and the artwork created here. Since 1989, she has collected over 100 pieces of contemporary Native American and Mexican artwork. She had a great love and appreciation for the art and gardens of Tohono Chul, so much so that several of the outdoor spaces at her home were inspired by the gardens of Tohono Chul. When she passed in 2013, her art collection was donated to Tohono Chul.
Hopi Wicker Plaque with Pinwheel Designs
Hopi wicker plaque from the third mesa with a pinwheel design and multicolored center by Unknown Hopi Artist
Star and Lightning Jar
Rose on brown oval jar with sgraffito star and lightning design by Santa Clara/ Taos artist Polly Rose Folwell
Dolomite Ram Fetish
Dolomite ram with blue eyes and petroglyph like symbols carved on its body by Zuni artist Ulysses Mahkee
Cochiti Storyteller
Cochiti polychrome on buff storyteller with twenty-one children all around her. by Cochiti artist Vangie Suina
Hopi Wicker Plaque with Rainbow Design
Wicker plaque from the third mesa in a rainbow design by Unknown Hopi Artist
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Ceramic Nativity Scene
Santa Clara blackware nativity scene that includes nine figures by Santa Clara artist Linda Askan
Hopi Wicker Plaque with Star
Hopi wicker plaque from the third mesa with 5-point star design by Unknown Hopi Artist
Gallup Squares
Three gallup squares in various designs and colors by Unknown Navajo Artist
Hopi Wicker Plaque with Whirlwind Design
Hopi wicker plaque from the third mesa with whirlwind design by Unknown Hopi Artist
Hopi Red Jar
Red polished jar by Hopi artist Alton Komalestewa
Hopi Miniature Corn Jar
Miniature Hopi polished buff jar with a corn applique on one side by Hopi-Tewa artist Iris Nampeyo
Black Polished Santa Clara Bowl
Santa Clara black polished bowl with oval indents above shoulder by Santa Clara artist Tina Garcia
Hopi Coiled Bowl with Antelope Designs
Hopi coiled bowl with antelope designs in orange and brown by Hopi artist Pearl Coochwytewa
Hopi Wicker Plaque with Star and Cloud Design
Hopi wicker plaque from the third mesa with 4-point star design by Unknown Hopi Artist
The Agnes T. and Don L. Smith Collection
Agnes Smith and her husband Don had a fondness for the native cultures of the Southwest, frequently traveling and purchasing objects for their collection. Mrs. Smith had warm feelings for Tohono Chul and wanted to share her collection so that our visitors might appreciate and enjoy these fine Native American crafts as she did.
A majority of the Smith Collection has been accessioned into our Permanent Collection and the remaining are now available for purchase. Included in this collection are fine examples of Native American basketry, pottery and Navajo weavings.
Quinault Basket with Beads
Basket with maroon, turquoise and cream beads by Unknown Quinault Artist
Lidded Ojibwa Birchbark Container
Lidded birchbark container by Algonquin artist Rogan
Lidded Wolf Design Basket
Wolf head design on basket in green and red with sun design on the lid by Unknown Quinault Artist
Carved Spoon
Carved spoon with mother of pearl inlay on edge, circa 1900 by Unknown Tlingit Artist
Navajo Rug Remnant
Remnant of a Navajo rug with a white background and two serrated red diamonds by Unknown Navajo Artist
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Small Nootka Lidded Basket
Small, lidded basket with wave design by Unknown Nootka Artist
Twined Basket with Whale Tooth Design
Basket with flaring sides and whale tooth design by Unknown Quinault Artist
Basket with Brown and Ivory Design
Ivory and brown twined open weave basket with lid by Unknown Quinault Artist
Basket with Wave Design
Spruce root, maiden hair fern and grass basket with two repetitive horizontal bands in red and brown circle the body by Unknown Tlingit Artist
Basket with Wolftooth Design
Round basket with slightly flared sides featuring four wolftooth design by Unknown Quinault Artist
Coiled Basket with Imbricate Overlay
Coiled basket with an imbricated overlay and tree of life design by Unknown Artist
Beaded Knife Sheath
Buck-skin knife sheath with bead work Unknown Artist
Basket with Snake Design
Round basket with flaring sides and four band snake design by Unknown Quinault Artist
Twined Basket
Closed weave with black zig-zag bands by Unknown Yurok Artist
Basket with Netting Design
Coiled Bowl with black netting design by Unknown Yurok Artist
Vase-Shaped Basket
Vase-shaped basket with two dark saw-like designs by Unknown Great Basin or Philippine Artist
Geometric Design Basket with Lid
Straight-sided basket with close fitting cover by Unknown Philippine Artist
Black and Red Geometric Design Bowl
Geometric design in black and red by Unknown Casas Grandes Reproduction Artist
Basket with Lavender and Beige Design
Small basket flaring out from rounded base with lavender tracks or lavender and beige design by Unknown Quinault Artist
Small Seed basket
Small plain twined basket with slightly flaring sides by Unknown Klamath Artist
Roland and Lila Wadsworth Bolo Tie Collection
After serving in WWII, Roland “Bob” Wadsworth graduated with a civil engineering degree and moved the Phoenix and with two other engineers. Together, they founded the Engineering Corporation and Roland served as chief engineer for numerous projects on the Navajo Reservation and became an admirer and friend of many talented artists and craftsmen. His fascination with beautiful bolo ties began when he purchased his first and determined to never wear an ordinary tie again.
By 1977, Roland’s bolo tie collection amassed to 82 exquisite bolos designed in silver with inlays of coral, mother of pearl, malachite, lapis, sugilite, and turquoise. This gift to Tohono Chul follows Roland and Lila’s generous gift of African artist Kioko Mwitiki’s Horse, a life size reclaimed metal sculpture that is permanently installed in Tohono Chul’s Cactus Circle.
Inlaid Ram Bolo Tie
Silver ram with inlayed arrow inlaid at the BJ Mudd workshop
Helen Long Style Bolo Tie
Silver and turquoise Helen Long Style bolo with silver tips
Drum Design Bolo Tie
Drum design in silver and turquoise by Zuni artist Eddie Beyuka
Morenci Turquoise Bolo Tie
Silver and Morenci turquoise bolo with silver tips
Zuni Knifewing Dancer Bolo Tie
Silver and turquoise Knifewing Dancer bolo with silver tips by Unknown Zuni Artist
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Reversible Bolo Tie with Matching Cufflinks
On one side of the bolo has turquoise with a silver leaf and the other side has coral with silver designs by Navajo artist Ramon Platero
Turquoise Bolo Tie with Matching Ring
The bolo, tips and ring have silver leaves surrounding a piece of turquoise
Flying Eagle Bolo Tie
Inlayed flying eagle by Zuni artists Raul Peyketewa and Bernice Leekity
Navajo Dancer Bolo Tie
Navajo dancer pendant made with sterling silver, 14K gold and coral by Navajo artist Leonard Jim
Eagle Bolo Tie
Eagle design bolo tie with eagle head tips by Zuni artists Ray and Bernice Wyaco
Cluster Style Bolo Tie
Coral, turquoise, and silver cluster style bolo tie.
Hoop Dancer Bolo Tie
Hoop dancer with four rings and silver tips by Zuni artist Eddie Beyuka
Hawk Bolo Tie
Perched hawk bolo tie with hawk head tips by Zuni artist Porfilio Sheyka
Mountain Lion Bolo Tie
Growling mountain lion bolo tie with claw and paw tips by Zuni artists Ray and Bernice Wyaco
Plains Indian Style Dancer Bolo Tie
Plains Indian Style Dancer Bolo Tie by Zuni artist Lavonne Lalio
Inlay and Needlepoint Sunface Bolo Tie
By Zuni artists Benjy and Shirley Tzuni
Shalako Bolo Tie
Shalako style bolo tie with silver tips by Zuni artist Vera Luna
Sitting Mountain Lion Bolo Tie
Inlayed sitting mountain lion by Zuni artists Ray and Eva Wyaco
Coral Bolo Tie
Silver and coral oval cluster bolo tie with silver tips by Navajo artist S. Chavez
Zuni Eagle Dancer Bolo Tie
Inlayed Zuni Eagle Dancer by Zuni artist L Harker
Want to see more?
Request a private tour to see more items available in each collection. Please email exhibits@tohonochul.org to make arrangements.
Disclaimer: Please note items are sold in as-is condition. Collection items featured on the website are available for shipment, however picking up your purchased items is preferred. Not all items in each collection are available on the website due to their delicate nature, but are still available for purchase, so please email exhibits@tohonochul.org for more information.
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