Arthur W. Erickson, Inc.

Arthur W. Erickson, Inc. Established 1974

Specializing in old Native American arts and artifacts: basketry, beadwork, jewelry, and more.

We specialize in Old Native American Art and Artifacts, Tribal Art and Unusual antiques from around the world

Created in the 1920s, this beaded belt is a sparkling piece of fashion-art. Originated from the Plateau region, the woma...
05/28/2026

Created in the 1920s, this beaded belt is a sparkling piece of fashion-art. Originated from the Plateau region, the woman who wore this probably felt absolutely stunning in it. The symmetry on the vine and flowers is impressive, especially when we consider the fact that this is a piece of handwork – it was not created by some perfect machine, but by a woman working in the light of a flame or by the sun. She painted with beads, stitching each into a thick length of canvas, creating a celebration of the local flora for either herself or a very dear one to wear. This belt is missing a few beads, but is in overall very good condition, and is a wonderful example of Plateau florals.

It is 32” long, and 3 ⅓” wide. Available on our website.

$295

Started in 1888 by Georgiana Pittock and her friends, the Rose Festival has been a mainstay of Portland culture since. W...
05/28/2026

Started in 1888 by Georgiana Pittock and her friends, the Rose Festival has been a mainstay of Portland culture since. While it started as a rather humble get together in Pittock’s back garden, the festival has grown to a multiweek celebration that includes multiple parades and many other local events. The Grand Floral Parade is the centerpiece of the festival and the second largest all-floral parade in the United States after the Tournament of Roses Parade, and we are quite proud of that. In fact, we’re rather proud of all our roses here in Portland, from those that decorate our homes to the ones that grow alongside the intersection of I-405 and US-26.

This poster was a lovely addition to our gallery. Created for the 1923 Festival, this original poster features a beautiful art nouveau maiden among a host of roses. In the background is the city skyline, marrying the natural beauty of the land here with the industry of the city.

We wish all of the Princesses luck this year, and can’t wait to watch the parade and all of the beautiful floral floats. Happy Rose Fest!

This post is available for purchase, if you are interested please come into the gallery (528 NW 12th Ave), give us a call ((503) 227-4710), or send an email ([email protected]).

$575.

05/25/2026

So . . . Not a ghost, just Pippa saying Happy Monday.

Today we have a very nice Modoc basket to share with you. It dates to the late 1800s and is primarily made of beargrass....
05/24/2026

Today we have a very nice Modoc basket to share with you. It dates to the late 1800s and is primarily made of beargrass. But the weaver has decorated this basket with a lovely alternating triangular motif in a dark material (perhaps dyed beargrass or tule) and interesting wool additions. The red wool binding on the rim is quite obvious and visually striking, but the small teal or green stitches below the rim are also made of wool. This is unusual and fascinating, making this a little different than your standard Modoc basket. As expected for a basket of this age, there is some wear and moth damage to the red trade cloth but that just adds to the life this basket has lived. If you appreciate older baskets and their history, this would be a wonderful addition to your collection.

This basket is 4 ¼” tall and 5” across. Available on our website, direct link in bio.

$675.

Greetings,You may have heard already, but we are launching a new-to-us method of correspondence! Our intent is to keep i...
05/23/2026

Greetings,
You may have heard already, but we are launching a new-to-us method of correspondence! Our intent is to keep in contact and share announcements with all of Arthur W Erickson's patrons and friends.

What to Expect?
The anticipation of an average of two emails a month from us, ranging from educational newsletters to information about events we will be hosting or participating in. This is not the kind of email subscription that will spam your inbox but rather like a piece of mail from your favorite pen pal.
If this sounds like something you would enjoy, follow the link in our bio, or sign up on our website.
Arthur and the staff at AWE, Inc., hope that you will enjoy these dispatches and invite you to join us.
And of course, you can unsubscribe at any time.

This stunning basket comes from a Yokuts artist of Central California. While we may want to use the term “Yokut” when di...
05/23/2026

This stunning basket comes from a Yokuts artist of Central California. While we may want to use the term “Yokut” when discussing a single member or their identity as an ethnic group, Yokuts is both singular and plural, and without the -s is erroneous. Originally inhabiting the San Joaquin Valley, from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta south to Bakersfield and the adjacent foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, colonization has unfortunately dispersed the 62 individual tribes across Central California. There are now only six federally recognized tribes, and two that are unrecognized.

This basket is a wonderful work of art from the unknown Yokuts artist, and the weaving is tight and even. Decorated with stars and a pattern resembling the markings of a rattlesnake, this is one of the finest Yokuts baskets to come onto the mark in some time. Arthur is truly excited for whoever decides to bring it into their house.

Available on our website, direct link in bi0.

$2550.

Arthur has chosen another toggling harpoon head to share with us today. All around interesting, we are fascinated by the...
05/21/2026

Arthur has chosen another toggling harpoon head to share with us today. All around interesting, we are fascinated by the seemingly artistic carving on the harpoon head, grooves etched into the walrus ivory. These shapes are reminiscent of the seam lines on Inuit parkas. This harpoon head also still has the leather cord attached to it, and a small wooden piece also threaded onto the cording. The wooden piece is carved very intentionally, and perhaps was a kind of linchpin to help hold the toggle head onto the shaft.

The toggle harpoon was invented by the Dorset people (500 BCE-1500 CE) but was perfected by the Thule people, who inhabited the Arctic regions as early as 1 CE. The harpoon head, called sakku in Inuktitut, is just one piece of arctic hunting. The kayak, or qajaq, is another, and is quintessential in Inuit survival in the arctic. From the qajaq to the unaaq (harpoon), the alinga (harpoon line), the norsaq (throwing stick, similar to an atlatl), and to the avataq (drag float), each piece of hunting equipment fits into one another, and in turn is an extension of the the hunter himself.

Toggling head harpoons are still used by contemporary Inuit hunters, and this artifact is a piece of that complex puzzle of Inuit culture and life. The head alone is 2 ½” long. With the cordage, the artifact measures 10 ¾”.

Available. $175.

Pippa is on quality control today. Nobody worry, she's got it handled!
05/18/2026

Pippa is on quality control today. Nobody worry, she's got it handled!

05/16/2026

Is this true for you? Do hand made objects resonate with you? They do with us.

SOLD. This pipe comes from the Mi’kmaq of Northeastern Canada. Mi'kmaq, the singular of which is Mi'kmaw, comes from the...
05/14/2026

SOLD. This pipe comes from the Mi’kmaq of Northeastern Canada. Mi'kmaq, the singular of which is Mi'kmaw, comes from the word ni'kmaq meaning "my friends". There are various spelling conventions and previously, Micmac was the well-known spelling. The Mi’kmaq themselves use the terms L’nuk and L’nu, which simply mean “the people”. Carved from a stone indigenous to the area it originated from, this pipe has a pleasant smooth feel in the hand and the scent of the to***co lingers in the stone. This is a wonderful piece to add to any pipe collection.

Measuring 4” long and 2 ⅝” tall.

New in the gallery! We have acquired an absolutely incredible collection of pottery from Hopi Pueblo. All of these pots ...
05/13/2026

New in the gallery! We have acquired an absolutely incredible collection of pottery from Hopi Pueblo. All of these pots have incredible workmanship, and they feature lovely smooth walls and beautifully precise painting. The artists, including Madeline Sahneyah, James Nampeyo, Karen Abeita, Stetson Setalla, and Frog Woman, have all burnished these pots to a lovely shine, which contrasts nicely with the matte designs.

Pueblo pottery is full of symbolism, and these pots are no different. We can see plenty of animals represented here, including two different fish, moths, a parrot, and a human figure. The abstract designs represent feathers, clouds, rain, and more conceptual things like migrations. The artistry in these vessels is truly amazing and we are so thrilled to have them in the gallery. One of our very favorite things about these pots though is that they smell distinctly like the earth the clay was dug from.

Two of these pots are already spoken for, but if you are interested in any of them please give us a call at the gallery, (503) 227-4710.

Address

528 NW 12th Avenue
Portland, OR
97209

Opening Hours

Wednesday 11am - 5pm
Thursday 11am - 5pm
Friday 11am - 5pm

Telephone

+15032274710

Website

https://arthur-w-erickson-inc.sender.site/

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