Visitors and residents in Las Cruces will have the opportunity to participate in an auction of Native American crafts this November. The biennial “Navajo Rug Auction” will be making its return to Las Cruces on Saturday November 13.
Sales will benefit Native crafters and local museums, according to the event’s organizers.
The event is put on by the Foundation for Las Cruces Museums (FLCM) with the auction conducted by R.B. Burnham & Company, an auction and trading company out of Sanders, Arizona which specializes in selling the wares of Native crafters and artists in the Southwest.
Volunteers from the FLCM will staff the event, and a portion of sales will go to the Foundation. “We are especially looking forward to this year’s fundraising auction,” said FLCM President Randy Fromm. “The Burnham family always brings a wonderful assortment of rugs, jewelry, and other Native American items, so there really is something for everyone.”
The FLCM provides financial and volunteer support to the four city museums in Las Cruces. As these museums are operated and funded by the City of Las Cruces, they are heavily dependent on the availability of tax revenue, which can be limited. The FLCM is able to provide much needed support beyond what the local government can offer, thanks in large part to fundraising events such as the Navajo Rug Auction.
While the Navajo rugs auctioned off on Saturday are the main draw, there will also be Native-crafted jewelry available the Friday evening before. Appraisals of Native American items will be provided for a fee of $10, excluding paintings and kachinas. The appraisals and jewelry will be available from 5:00 to 8:00 PM on Friday, November 12.
On Saturday morning, beginning at 9:00 AM, a preview of the auction items will begin. Bidding will start at noon. The events Friday and Saturday will both take place at the Center for Spiritual Living located at 575 N. Main St in downtown Las Cruces. Admission is free and open to the public.
According to the R.B. Burnham & Company’s website, auctions “allow weavers and other artists to get a more immediate and higher return for their work.” They recommend coming early to take full advantage of the preview period before the auction begins.
For more information, visit the Foundation for Las Cruces Museums website or message them on Facebook.
