Earle Erik Heikka Paintings & Artwork for Sale | Earle Erik Heikka Art Value Price Guide

Nov. 13, 2024
Earle Erik Heikka (1910-1941), "Trophy Hunters" or "Bringing Home the Bacon," 1936
Est: $8,000 - $12,000
Earle Erik Heikka (1910-1941) "Trophy Hunters" or "Bringing Home the Bacon," 1936 Patinated bronze on a marble plinth Signed and dated in the casting: Earle Heika / 36 Stamped in the casting: HEIKKA FOUNDRY / 1982 / 6/1000
John Moran Auctioneers
Aug. 10, 2024
Earle Erik Heikka Bighorn Sheep Montana Bronze
Est: $600 - $800
7" by 5 5/8" by 3 5/8". Earle Erik Heikka (1910 - 1941) was active/lived in Montana. Earle Heikka is known for Western genre sculpture, dioramas. In 1963 Joe De Yong Charles M. Russell's only protege wrote a tribute to Earl E. Heikka, "What has received far less attention than deserved is the wholly untrained, yet artistically admirable quality of modeling that was produced in the all-too-short-lifetime of Earl Heikka of Great Falls." Heikka was born in Belt, Montana on May 3, 1910 to Finnish parents. When he was two years old, the family moved to Great Falls. He was only sixteen years-old when Charles Russell died, so it is uncertain how much time, if any, he observed Russell working in his studio in Great Falls. Like Russell, he learned a great deal about big game by hunting and packing. He also learned from spending time in Rumfords Taxidermy Shop in Great Falls. Unfortunately, his most productive years were during the Great Depression when prices for all goods and services dropped dramatically. Spending on art for even the wealthy was greatly reduced until after WW II. Heikka worked with mainly water-based air drying clay known as Marblex and used solid wire armature anchored to a wooden base. Many of his models were then beautifully and finely painted before they were ready for sale. Best known for his pack train sculptures, often with a number of riders and horses that were designed for mantles in lodges, Heikka sculpted them as his tribute to Glacier National Park and the Rocky Mountains. His finest was Taking Up the Slack, and others included: Trophy Hunters, Bringing Home the Bacon, Sun River Packers, Hunters Return, Pack Train, Pack String, and Successful. He was also a master of predicament subjects such as Pursued. Heikka struggled for sales his entire shortened life. Like so many others during the brutal days of the Depression, he committed suicide on May 18, 1941 in Great Falls and left a young family behind. Only a number of years after he died were his models cast in bronze and his sculpting abilities better appreciated. Today, his sculptures are highly prized and collectible.
Davis Brothers Auction
Aug. 03, 2024
Earle Heikka, "The Rattler"
Est: $1,800 - $2,400
Earle Heikka (1910-1941), "The Rattler", Bronze, cast 3/36, Signed and dated 1981
Scottsdale Art Auction, LLC
Aug. 03, 2024
Earle Heikka, "The Range Rider"
Est: $1,800 - $2,400
Earle Heikka (1910-1941), "The Range Rider", Bronze, cast 2/36, Classic Bronze; Accompanied by Two framed (together) handwritten letters, 1930 & 1931, each with a colored pencil sketch
Scottsdale Art Auction, LLC
Aug. 03, 2024
Earle Heikka, "Winter Storm"
Est: $1,000 - $1,500
Earle Heikka (1910-1941), "Winter Storm", Bronze, 46/299, Signed Accompanied by: Limited edition, matching number book by Vivian Paladin, noted "To Pat and Dale Peterson"
Scottsdale Art Auction, LLC
Jul. 13, 2024
Earle Erik Heikka Bucking Bronc Bronze Montana
Est: $2,000 - $3,000
Title is Bucking Bronc. 14 5/8" by 11" by 5 3/4". Earle Erik Heikka (1910 - 1941) was active/lived in Montana. Earle Heikka is known for Western genre sculpture, dioramas. In 1963 Joe De Yong Charles M. Russell's only protege wrote a tribute to Earl E. Heikka, "What has received far less attention than deserved is the wholly untrained, yet artistically admirable quality of modeling that was produced in the all-too-short-lifetime of Earl Heikka of Great Falls." Heikka was born in Belt, Montana on May 3, 1910 to Finnish parents. When he was two years old, the family moved to Great Falls. He was only sixteen years-old when Charles Russell died, so it is uncertain how much time, if any, he observed Russell working in his studio in Great Falls. Like Russell, he learned a great deal about big game by hunting and packing. He also learned from spending time in Rumfords Taxidermy Shop in Great Falls. Unfortunately, his most productive years were during the Great Depression when prices for all goods and services dropped dramatically. Spending on art for even the wealthy was greatly reduced until after WW II. Heikka worked with mainly water-based air drying clay known as Marblex and used solid wire armature anchored to a wooden base. Many of his models were then beautifully and finely painted before they were ready for sale. Best known for his pack train sculptures, often with a number of riders and horses that were designed for mantles in lodges, Heikka sculpted them as his tribute to Glacier National Park and the Rocky Mountains. His finest was Taking Up the Slack, and others included: Trophy Hunters, Bringing Home the Bacon, Sun River Packers, Hunters Return, Pack Train, Pack String, and Successful. He was also a master of predicament subjects such as Pursued. Heikka struggled for sales his entire shortened life. Like so many others during the brutal days of the Depression, he committed suicide on May 18, 1941 in Great Falls and left a young family behind. Only a number of years after he died were his models cast in bronze and his sculpting abilities better appreciated. Today, his sculptures are highly prized and collectible.
Davis Brothers Auction
Jul. 13, 2024
Earle Erik Heikka Bighorn Sheep Montana Bronze
Est: $600 - $800
7" by 5 5/8" by 3 5/8". Earle Erik Heikka (1910 - 1941) was active/lived in Montana. Earle Heikka is known for Western genre sculpture, dioramas. In 1963 Joe De Yong Charles M. Russell's only protege wrote a tribute to Earl E. Heikka, "What has received far less attention than deserved is the wholly untrained, yet artistically admirable quality of modeling that was produced in the all-too-short-lifetime of Earl Heikka of Great Falls." Heikka was born in Belt, Montana on May 3, 1910 to Finnish parents. When he was two years old, the family moved to Great Falls. He was only sixteen years-old when Charles Russell died, so it is uncertain how much time, if any, he observed Russell working in his studio in Great Falls. Like Russell, he learned a great deal about big game by hunting and packing. He also learned from spending time in Rumfords Taxidermy Shop in Great Falls. Unfortunately, his most productive years were during the Great Depression when prices for all goods and services dropped dramatically. Spending on art for even the wealthy was greatly reduced until after WW II. Heikka worked with mainly water-based air drying clay known as Marblex and used solid wire armature anchored to a wooden base. Many of his models were then beautifully and finely painted before they were ready for sale. Best known for his pack train sculptures, often with a number of riders and horses that were designed for mantles in lodges, Heikka sculpted them as his tribute to Glacier National Park and the Rocky Mountains. His finest was Taking Up the Slack, and others included: Trophy Hunters, Bringing Home the Bacon, Sun River Packers, Hunters Return, Pack Train, Pack String, and Successful. He was also a master of predicament subjects such as Pursued. Heikka struggled for sales his entire shortened life. Like so many others during the brutal days of the Depression, he committed suicide on May 18, 1941 in Great Falls and left a young family behind. Only a number of years after he died were his models cast in bronze and his sculpting abilities better appreciated. Today, his sculptures are highly prized and collectible.
Davis Brothers Auction
Jun. 23, 2024
Earle Eric Heikka (1910-1941) Original Bronze
Est: $6,000 - $12,000
Title: 'When Guns Were Slow' Inscribed rear base: 3/35 E. E. Heika 1937; front base: Powell Foundry measures approx. 18.25" x 17.25" x 9" Purchased new at the his gallery by current owner Santa Barbara, California
California Auctioneers
Jun. 14, 2024
Earle Erik Heikka (American, 1910-1941) Ink And Watercolor Illustrated Letter, Ca. June 28, 1932, H 10" W 6.75"
Est: $800 - $1,200
Handwritten letter from Heikka to Mr. William H. Marks, Seattle. Discusses a model sent to Mr. Marks. Signed E.E. Heika. Great Falls, Mont., June 28, 1932. Having an ink and watercolor illustration at the top of a cowboy holding the reins of a horse. Framed with the original envelope. Frame: H 22.25", W 13.75". Arizona West Galleries, Inc. label on the verso. Provenance: Property of Prominent Collector, Birmingham, Michigan
DuMouchelles
Jun. 08, 2024
Earle Erik Heikka Bucking Bronc Bronze Montana
Est: $2,000 - $3,000
Title is Bucking Bronc. 14 5/8" by 11" by 5 3/4". Earle Erik Heikka (1910 - 1941) was active/lived in Montana. Earle Heikka is known for Western genre sculpture, dioramas. In 1963 Joe De Yong Charles M. Russell's only protege wrote a tribute to Earl E. Heikka, "What has received far less attention than deserved is the wholly untrained, yet artistically admirable quality of modeling that was produced in the all-too-short-lifetime of Earl Heikka of Great Falls." Heikka was born in Belt, Montana on May 3, 1910 to Finnish parents. When he was two years old, the family moved to Great Falls. He was only sixteen years-old when Charles Russell died, so it is uncertain how much time, if any, he observed Russell working in his studio in Great Falls. Like Russell, he learned a great deal about big game by hunting and packing. He also learned from spending time in Rumfords Taxidermy Shop in Great Falls. Unfortunately, his most productive years were during the Great Depression when prices for all goods and services dropped dramatically. Spending on art for even the wealthy was greatly reduced until after WW II. Heikka worked with mainly water-based air drying clay known as Marblex and used solid wire armature anchored to a wooden base. Many of his models were then beautifully and finely painted before they were ready for sale. Best known for his pack train sculptures, often with a number of riders and horses that were designed for mantles in lodges, Heikka sculpted them as his tribute to Glacier National Park and the Rocky Mountains. His finest was Taking Up the Slack, and others included: Trophy Hunters, Bringing Home the Bacon, Sun River Packers, Hunters Return, Pack Train, Pack String, and Successful. He was also a master of predicament subjects such as Pursued. Heikka struggled for sales his entire shortened life. Like so many others during the brutal days of the Depression, he committed suicide on May 18, 1941 in Great Falls and left a young family behind. Only a number of years after he died were his models cast in bronze and his sculpting abilities better appreciated. Today, his sculptures are highly prized and collectible.
Davis Brothers Auction
May. 19, 2024
Earle Eric Heikka (1910-1941) Original Bronze
Est: $6,000 - $12,000
Title: 'When Guns Were Slow' Inscribed rear base: 3/35 E. E. Heika 1937; front base: Powell Foundry measures approx. 18.25" x 17.25" x 9" Purchased new at the his gallery by current owner Santa Barbara, California
California Auctioneers
May. 11, 2024
Earle Erik Heikka Country Doctor Bronze Montana
Est: $6,000 - $8,000
This is the first and only casting of this bronze known. Title is Country Doctor. Several Letters Attesting To its provenance and creation are included. 29 1/2" by 13 1/4" by 10 3/4". This bronze was initially cast from an original model of a piece positioned in a diorama titled "The Blessed Event" done by Heikka in approximately 1939. In 1963 Joe De Yong Charles M. Russell's only protege wrote a tribute to Earl E. Heikka, "What has received far less attention than deserved is the wholly untrained, yet artistically admirable quality of modeling that was produced in the all-too-short-lifetime of Earl Heikka of Great Falls." Heikka was born in Belt, Montana on May 3, 1910 to Finnish parents. When he was two years old, the family moved to Great Falls. He was only sixteen years-old when Charles Russell died, so it is uncertain how much time, if any, he observed Russell working in his studio in Great Falls. Like Russell, he learned a great deal about big game by hunting and packing. He also learned from spending time in Rumfords Taxidermy Shop in Great Falls. Unfortunately, his most productive years were during the Great Depression when prices for all goods and services dropped dramatically. Spending on art for even the wealthy was greatly reduced until after WW II. Heikka worked with mainly water-based air drying clay known as Marblex and used solid wire armature anchored to a wooden base. Many of his models were then beautifully and finely painted before they were ready for sale. Best known for his pack train sculptures, often with a number of riders and horses that were designed for mantles in lodges, Heikka sculpted them as his tribute to Glacier National Park and the Rocky Mountains. His finest was Taking Up the Slack, and others included: Trophy Hunters, Bringing Home the Bacon, Sun River Packers, Hunters Return, Pack Train, Pack String, and Successful. He was also a master of predicament subjects such as Pursued. Heikka struggled for sales his entire shortened life. Like so many others during the brutal days of the Depression, he committed suicide on May 18, 1941 in Great Falls and left a young family behind. Only a number of years after he died were his models cast in bronze and his sculpting abilities better appreciated. Today, his sculptures are highly prized and collectible.
Davis Brothers Auction
May. 09, 2024
Earle Heikka (American, 1910-1941) Trophy Hunters, edition 9/24, 1971
Est: $6,000 - $8,000
Earle Heikka (American, 1910-1941) Trophy Hunters, edition 9/24, 1971 bronze signed EE Heikka, titled, numbered and dated (base) height 14 x width 51 x depth 6 inches
Hindman
Apr. 19, 2024
Earle Erik Heikka (American, 1910-1941) Bronze Sculpture, Ca. Mid 20th C., "Native American Scout on Horseback", H 13.75" W 5" L 13"
Est: $500 - $800
Signed and dated 1930 at the base. Stamped "17/24 Mr. & Mrs. William L. Stainsby. 1968" at the lower edge. Depicting a Native American scout on horseback holding a rifle. Earle Heikka, a Montana sculptor whose sculptures were cast in bronze shortly after his passing in 1941. Provenance: Property of Prominent Collector, Birmingham, Michigan
DuMouchelles
Apr. 13, 2024
Earle Erik Heikka Bear Bronze Montana
Est: $400 - $600
6 1/2" by 5" by 4 5/8". Title is Black Bear. In 1963 Joe De Yong Charles M. Russell's only protege wrote a tribute to Earl E. Heikka, "What has received far less attention than deserved is the wholly untrained, yet artistically admirable quality of modeling that was produced in the all-too-short-lifetime of Earl Heikka of Great Falls." Heikka was born in Belt, Montana on May 3, 1910 to Finnish parents. When he was two years old, the family moved to Great Falls. He was only sixteen years-old when Charles Russell died, so it is uncertain how much time, if any, he observed Russell working in his studio in Great Falls. Like Russell, he learned a great deal about big game by hunting and packing. He also learned from spending time in Rumfords Taxidermy Shop in Great Falls. Unfortunately, his most productive years were during the Great Depression when prices for all goods and services dropped dramatically. Spending on art for even the wealthy was greatly reduced until after WW II. Heikka worked with mainly water-based air drying clay known as Marblex and used solid wire armature anchored to a wooden base. Many of his models were then beautifully and finely painted before they were ready for sale. Best known for his pack train sculptures, often with a number of riders and horses that were designed for mantles in lodges, Heikka sculpted them as his tribute to Glacier National Park and the Rocky Mountains. His finest was Taking Up the Slack, and others included: Trophy Hunters, Bringing Home the Bacon, Sun River Packers, Hunters Return, Pack Train, Pack String, and Successful. He was also a master of predicament subjects such as Pursued. Heikka struggled for sales his entire shortened life. Like so many others during the brutal days of the Depression, he committed suicide on May 18, 1941 in Great Falls and left a young family behind. Only a number of years after he died were his models cast in bronze and his sculpting abilities better appreciated. Today, his sculptures are highly prized and collectible.
Davis Brothers Auction
Apr. 13, 2024
Earle Erik Heikka Country Doctor Bronze Montana
Est: $8,000 - $12,000
This is the first and only casting of this bronze known. Title is Country Doctor. Several Letters Attesting To its provenance and creation are included. 29 1/2" by 13 1/4" by 10 3/4". This bronze was initially cast from an original model of a piece positioned in a diorama titled "The Blessed Event" done by Heikka in approximately 1939. In 1963 Joe De Yong Charles M. Russell's only protege wrote a tribute to Earl E. Heikka, "What has received far less attention than deserved is the wholly untrained, yet artistically admirable quality of modeling that was produced in the all-too-short-lifetime of Earl Heikka of Great Falls." Heikka was born in Belt, Montana on May 3, 1910 to Finnish parents. When he was two years old, the family moved to Great Falls. He was only sixteen years-old when Charles Russell died, so it is uncertain how much time, if any, he observed Russell working in his studio in Great Falls. Like Russell, he learned a great deal about big game by hunting and packing. He also learned from spending time in Rumfords Taxidermy Shop in Great Falls. Unfortunately, his most productive years were during the Great Depression when prices for all goods and services dropped dramatically. Spending on art for even the wealthy was greatly reduced until after WW II. Heikka worked with mainly water-based air drying clay known as Marblex and used solid wire armature anchored to a wooden base. Many of his models were then beautifully and finely painted before they were ready for sale. Best known for his pack train sculptures, often with a number of riders and horses that were designed for mantles in lodges, Heikka sculpted them as his tribute to Glacier National Park and the Rocky Mountains. His finest was Taking Up the Slack, and others included: Trophy Hunters, Bringing Home the Bacon, Sun River Packers, Hunters Return, Pack Train, Pack String, and Successful. He was also a master of predicament subjects such as Pursued. Heikka struggled for sales his entire shortened life. Like so many others during the brutal days of the Depression, he committed suicide on May 18, 1941 in Great Falls and left a young family behind. Only a number of years after he died were his models cast in bronze and his sculpting abilities better appreciated. Today, his sculptures are highly prized and collectible.
Davis Brothers Auction
Apr. 13, 2024
Earle Erik Heikka Horse Head Bronze Montana
Est: $1,000 - $1,500
12 3/8" by 7" by 6 3/4". In 1963 Joe De Yong Charles M. Russell's only protege wrote a tribute to Earl E. Heikka, "What has received far less attention than deserved is the wholly untrained, yet artistically admirable quality of modeling that was produced in the all-too-short-lifetime of Earl Heikka of Great Falls." Heikka was born in Belt, Montana on May 3, 1910 to Finnish parents. When he was two years old, the family moved to Great Falls. He was only sixteen years-old when Charles Russell died, so it is uncertain how much time, if any, he observed Russell working in his studio in Great Falls. Like Russell, he learned a great deal about big game by hunting and packing. He also learned from spending time in Rumfords Taxidermy Shop in Great Falls. Unfortunately, his most productive years were during the Great Depression when prices for all goods and services dropped dramatically. Spending on art for even the wealthy was greatly reduced until after WW II. Heikka worked with mainly water-based air drying clay known as Marblex and used solid wire armature anchored to a wooden base. Many of his models were then beautifully and finely painted before they were ready for sale. Best known for his pack train sculptures, often with a number of riders and horses that were designed for mantles in lodges, Heikka sculpted them as his tribute to Glacier National Park and the Rocky Mountains. His finest was Taking Up the Slack, and others included: Trophy Hunters, Bringing Home the Bacon, Sun River Packers, Hunters Return, Pack Train, Pack String, and Successful. He was also a master of predicament subjects such as Pursued. Heikka struggled for sales his entire shortened life. Like so many others during the brutal days of the Depression, he committed suicide on May 18, 1941 in Great Falls and left a young family behind. Only a number of years after he died were his models cast in bronze and his sculpting abilities better appreciated. Today, his sculptures are highly prized and collectible.
Davis Brothers Auction
Apr. 13, 2024
Earle Erik Heikka Charles M Russell Plaster Model
Est: $800 - $1,200
11" by 5 5/8" by 5 1/8". Title Is Charles M Russell. This is the one of a kind plaster model used to cast the bronze. In 1963 Joe De Yong Charles M. Russell's only protege wrote a tribute to Earl E. Heikka, "What has received far less attention than deserved is the wholly untrained, yet artistically admirable quality of modeling that was produced in the all-too-short-lifetime of Earl Heikka of Great Falls." Heikka was born in Belt, Montana on May 3, 1910 to Finnish parents. When he was two years old, the family moved to Great Falls. He was only sixteen years-old when Charles Russell died, so it is uncertain how much time, if any, he observed Russell working in his studio in Great Falls. Like Russell, he learned a great deal about big game by hunting and packing. He also learned from spending time in Rumfords Taxidermy Shop in Great Falls. Unfortunately, his most productive years were during the Great Depression when prices for all goods and services dropped dramatically. Spending on art for even the wealthy was greatly reduced until after WW II. Heikka worked with mainly water-based air drying clay known as Marblex and used solid wire armature anchored to a wooden base. Many of his models were then beautifully and finely painted before they were ready for sale. Best known for his pack train sculptures, often with a number of riders and horses that were designed for mantles in lodges, Heikka sculpted them as his tribute to Glacier National Park and the Rocky Mountains. His finest was Taking Up the Slack, and others included: Trophy Hunters, Bringing Home the Bacon, Sun River Packers, Hunters Return, Pack Train, Pack String, and Successful. He was also a master of predicament subjects such as Pursued. Heikka struggled for sales his entire shortened life. Like so many others during the brutal days of the Depression, he committed suicide on May 18, 1941 in Great Falls and left a young family behind. Only a number of years after he died were his models cast in bronze and his sculpting abilities better appreciated. Today, his sculptures are highly prized and collectible.
Davis Brothers Auction
Mar. 02, 2024
Earle Erik Heikka Scotty Cowboy Bronze
Est: $1,000 - $1,500
13 1/2" by 12" by 6 3/8". Title is When I was a Kid Scotty. In 1963 Joe De YongCharles M. Russell's only protegewrote a tribute to Earl E. Heikka, "What has received far less attention than deserved is the wholly untrained, yet artistically admirable quality of modeling that was produced in the all-too-short-lifetime of Earl Heikka of Great Falls." Heikka was born in Belt, Montana on May 3, 1910 to Finnish parents. When he was two years old, the family moved to Great Falls. He was only sixteen years-old when Charles Russell died, so it is uncertain how much time, if any, he observed Russell working in his studio in Great Falls. Like Russell, he learned a great deal about big game by hunting and packing. He also learned from spending time in Rumfords Taxidermy Shop in Great Falls. Unfortunately, his most productive years were during the Great Depression when prices for all goods and services dropped dramatically. Spending on art for even the wealthy was greatly reduced until after WW II. Heikka worked with mainly water-based air drying clay known as Marblex and used solid wire armature anchored to a wooden base. Many of his models were then beautifully and finely painted before they were ready for sale. Best known for his pack train sculptures, often with a number of riders and horses that were designed for mantles in lodges, Heikka sculpted them as his tribute to Glacier National Park and the Rocky Mountains. His finest was Taking Up the Slack, and others included: Trophy Hunters, Bringing Home the Bacon, Sun River Packers, Hunters Return, Pack Train, Pack String, and Successful. He was also a master of predicament subjects such as Pursued. Heikka struggled for sales his entire shortened life. Like so many others during the brutal days of the Depression, he committed suicide on May 18, 1941 in Great Falls and left a young family behind. Only a number of years after he died were his models cast in bronze and his sculpting abilities better appreciated. Today, his sculptures are highly prized and collectible.
Davis Brothers Auction
Jul. 29, 2023
EARLE ERIK HEIKKA CHARLES M RUSSELL BRONZE
Est: $750 - $1,000
10 1/2" tall, 5" long, 4 3/4" wide. In 1963 Joe De Yong—Charles M. Russell’s only protégé—wrote a tribute to Earl E. Heikka, "What has received far less attention than deserved is the wholly untrained, yet artistically admirable quality of modeling that was produced in the all-too-short-lifetime of Earl Heikka of Great Falls." Heikka was born in Belt, Montana on May 3, 1910 to Finnish parents. When he was two years old, the family moved to Great Falls. He was only sixteen years-old when Charles Russell died, so it is uncertain how much time, if any, he observed Russell working in his studio in Great Falls. Like Russell, he learned a great deal about big game by hunting and packing. He also learned from spending time in Rumford’s Taxidermy Shop in Great Falls. Unfortunately, his most productive years were during the Great Depression when prices for all goods and services dropped dramatically. Spending on art for even the wealthy was greatly reduced until after WW II. Heikka worked with mainly water-based air drying clay known as Marblex and used solid wire armature anchored to a wooden base. Many of his models were then beautifully and finely painted before they were ready for sale. Best known for his pack train sculptures, often with a number of riders and horses that were designed for mantles in lodges, Heikka sculpted them as his tribute to Glacier National Park and the Rocky Mountains. His finest was Taking Up the Slack, and others included: Trophy Hunters, Bringing Home the Bacon, Sun River Packers, Hunter’s Return, Pack Train, Pack String, and Successful. He was also a master of predicament subjects such as Pursued. Heikka struggled for sales his entire shortened life. Like so many others during the brutal days of the Depression, he committed suicide on May 18, 1941 in Great Falls and left a young family behind. Only a number of years after he died were his models cast in bronze and his sculpting abilities better appreciated. Today, his sculptures are highly prized and collectible.
Davis Brothers Auction
May. 21, 2023
Earle Erik Heikka, Montana,USA (1910-1941) Bronze
Est: $800 - $1,000
Earle Erik Heikka, Montana/USA (1910-1941) Bronze Sculpture of a Horseman "The Days of Slow Guns". Fully Signed "E.E. Heikka" & Dated 1940. Also w/ Foundry Mark of Van Kirke Nelson. On Green Marble Base. Condition: Excellent. Dimensions: Bronze Alone- H-13.5" x L-11.5". Base- 12" x 6" x 1.3". Provenance: From a Private New Jersey Collector. Please note the absence of a Condition Report does not imply that there are no condition issues with this lot. Please contact us for a detailed Condition Report. It is the Buyer's responsibility to inspect each lot and deem their own opinions on Condition, Description, Provenance, and Validity before purchasing. Please make an appointment to preview or ask for Condition Reports. Condition Reports are rendered as an opinion by the staff of the Auction House and not as statements of fact. REMEMBER ALL SALES ARE FINAL AND ALL ITEMS ARE SOLD AS-IS, WHERE IS.
World Auction Gallery
May. 04, 2023
Earle Erik Heikka (American, 1910-1941) Sun River Packer, edition , 1940
Est: $3,000 - $5,000
Earle Erik Heikka (American, 1910-1941) Sun River Packer, edition , 1940 bronze signed EE Heikka and dated (base) height 12 1/4 x length 51 1/2 x width 3 1/2 inches Property from a Corporate Art Collection, Oklahoma
Hindman
Apr. 30, 2023
Earle Erik Heikka (American, 1910-1941) Bronze Sculpture
Est: $1,000 - $2,000
Earle Erik Heikka (American,1910-1941) Bronze Sculpture. Title - Escape. Bronze western sculpture (1932) Signed E. E. Heikka. Label applied on front titled Escape. Measures 16.3 inches high, 15.2 inches wide. Weight 19 lbs. In good condition. In 1963 Joe De Yong-Charles M. Russell's only protege-wrote a tribute to Earl E. Heikka, What has received far less attention than deserved is the wholly untrained, yet artistically admirable quality of modeling that was produced in the all-too-short-lifetime of Earl Heikka of Great Falls. Heikka was born in Belt, Montana on May 3, 1910 to Finnish parents. When he was two years old, the family moved to Great Falls. He was only sixteen years-old when Charles Russell died, so it is uncertain how much time, if any, he observed Russell working in his studio in Great Falls. Like Russell, he learned a great deal about big game by hunting and packing. He also learned from spending time in Rumford's Taxidermy Shop in Great Falls. Unfortunately, his most productive years were during the Great Depression when prices for all goods and services dropped dramatically. Spending on art for even the wealthy was greatly reduced until after WW II. Heikka worked with mainly water-based air drying clay known as Marblex and used solid wire armature anchored to a wooden base. Many of his models were then beautifully and finely painted before they were ready for sale. Best known for his pack train sculptures, often with a number of riders and horses that were designed for mantles in lodges, Heikka sculpted them as his tribute to Glacier National Park and the Rocky Mountains. His finest was Taking Up the Slack, and others included: Trophy Hunters, Bringing Home the Bacon, Sun River Packers, Hunter's Return, Pack Train, Pack String, and Successful. He was also a master of predicament subjects such as Pursued. Heikka struggled for sales his entire shortened life. Like so many others during the brutal days of the Depression, he committed suicide on May 18, 1941 in Great Falls and left a young family behind. Only a number of years after he died were his models cast in bronze and his sculpting abilities better appreciated. Today, his sculptures are highly prized and collectible. Source: Excerpt from The American West Reimagined (2021) by Dr. Larry Len Peterson
Myers Fine Art
Jan. 11, 2023
Earle Erik Heikka (American, 1910-1941) Diorama "Bringing in Nanooksoah
Est: $700 - $1,000
1934, clay, oil on canvas, fur, mixed media.
Cottone Auctions
Nov. 01, 2022
Earle Erik Heikka (American, 1910-1941) Changing Saddles, edition 4/36, 1941
Est: $4,000 - $6,000
Earle Erik Heikka (American, 1910-1941) Changing Saddles, edition 4/36, 1941 bronze signed E.E. Heikka, numbered and dated (base) height 12 x length 19 1/2 x width 8 inches Property from a Prominent Missouri Collection
Hindman
Nov. 01, 2022
Earle Erik Heikka (American, 1910-1941) Rider with Mules, edition 1/36, 1977
Est: $1,500 - $2,500
Earle Erik Heikka (American, 1910-1941) Rider with Mules, edition 1/36, 1977 bronze signed E.E. Heika, numbered, dated and marked ADRI BUTLER (base) height 10 3/4 x length 16 1/2 x width 6 1/2 inches Property sold to Benefit the Acquisitions Fund of the Buffalo Bill Cody Center of the West
Hindman
Nov. 01, 2022
Earle Erik Heikka (American, 1910-1941) Hardrock, edition 24/50, 1933
Est: $2,000 - $4,000
Earle Erik Heikka (American, 1910-1941) Hardrock, edition 24/50, 1933 bronze signed E.E. Heika, numbered and dated (base) height 12 x width 11 1/2 x depth 12 inches Property from a Prominent Missouri Collection Provenance: Charles M. Russell Benefit Auction, Great Falls, Montana, 2010, Lot 158 Acquired from the above by the present owner
Hindman
Oct. 01, 2022
EARLE ERIK HEIKKA HORSE HEAD BRONZE MONTANA
Est: $600 - $800
Numbered 2 of 100. 12" long, 5" wide on plaque. In 1963 Joe De Yong—Charles M. Russell’s only protégé—wrote a tribute to Earl E. Heikka, "What has received far less attention than deserved is the wholly untrained, yet artistically admirable quality of modeling that was produced in the all-too-short-lifetime of Earl Heikka of Great Falls." Heikka was born in Belt, Montana on May 3, 1910 to Finnish parents. When he was two years old, the family moved to Great Falls. He was only sixteen years-old when Charles Russell died, so it is uncertain how much time, if any, he observed Russell working in his studio in Great Falls. Like Russell, he learned a great deal about big game by hunting and packing. He also learned from spending time in Rumford’s Taxidermy Shop in Great Falls. Unfortunately, his most productive years were during the Great Depression when prices for all goods and services dropped dramatically. Spending on art for even the wealthy was greatly reduced until after WW II. Heikka worked with mainly water-based air drying clay known as Marblex and used solid wire armature anchored to a wooden base. Many of his models were then beautifully and finely painted before they were ready for sale. Best known for his pack train sculptures, often with a number of riders and horses that were designed for mantles in lodges, Heikka sculpted them as his tribute to Glacier National Park and the Rocky Mountains. His finest was Taking Up the Slack, and others included: Trophy Hunters, Bringing Home the Bacon, Sun River Packers, Hunter’s Return, Pack Train, Pack String, and Successful. He was also a master of predicament subjects such as Pursued. Heikka struggled for sales his entire shortened life. Like so many others during the brutal days of the Depression, he committed suicide on May 18, 1941 in Great Falls and left a young family behind. Only a number of years after he died were his models cast in bronze and his sculpting abilities better appreciated. Today, his sculptures are highly prized and collectible.
Davis Brothers Auction
Sep. 28, 2022
Earle Erik Heikka "Vaquero" Bronze
Est: $1,000 - $1,500
Earle Erik Heikka (American, 1910-1941). Cast bronze sculpture titled "Vaquero," 1929, depicting a man with a large hat riding a horse. With an inscribed signature and date along the base; stamped 16/30. The bronze is affixed to a wooden base.
Revere Auctions
Aug. 27, 2022
EARLE ERIK HEIKKA JACK RABBIT BRONZE
Est: $150 - $200
5" tall. In 1963 Joe De Yong—Charles M. Russell’s only protégé—wrote a tribute to Earl E. Heikka, "What has received far less attention than deserved is the wholly untrained, yet artistically admirable quality of modeling that was produced in the all-too-short-lifetime of Earl Heikka of Great Falls." Heikka was born in Belt, Montana on May 3, 1910 to Finnish parents. When he was two years old, the family moved to Great Falls. He was only sixteen years-old when Charles Russell died, so it is uncertain how much time, if any, he observed Russell working in his studio in Great Falls. Like Russell, he learned a great deal about big game by hunting and packing. He also learned from spending time in Rumford’s Taxidermy Shop in Great Falls. Unfortunately, his most productive years were during the Great Depression when prices for all goods and services dropped dramatically. Spending on art for even the wealthy was greatly reduced until after WW II. Heikka worked with mainly water-based air drying clay known as Marblex and used solid wire armature anchored to a wooden base. Many of his models were then beautifully and finely painted before they were ready for sale. Best known for his pack train sculptures, often with a number of riders and horses that were designed for mantles in lodges, Heikka sculpted them as his tribute to Glacier National Park and the Rocky Mountains. His finest was Taking Up the Slack, and others included: Trophy Hunters, Bringing Home the Bacon, Sun River Packers, Hunter’s Return, Pack Train, Pack String, and Successful. He was also a master of predicament subjects such as Pursued. Heikka struggled for sales his entire shortened life. Like so many others during the brutal days of the Depression, he committed suicide on May 18, 1941 in Great Falls and left a young family behind. Only a number of years after he died were his models cast in bronze and his sculpting abilities better appreciated. Today, his sculptures are highly prized and collectible.
Davis Brothers Auction
Aug. 13, 2022
Richard Myer "E.E. Heikka Bust," Bronze c. 1955
Est: $450 - $900
Featured in this lot is this bronze sculpture titled "E.E. Heikka," by Richard Myers circa 1955. The bronze sculpture features a wonderfully and professionally crafted bronze construction mounted on a hardwood shield. The bronze is titled on the front "E.E. Heikka" and is marked on the back Rich Myer - 1955 and shows a marking next to the signature of AC-30. Earl Heikka was an American sculptor. He designed figurines and statues of the Old West, miners, and horses. Richard Myer, schooled at Brigham Young University, moved to New York City to further his art studies and now a resident in California. Richard Myer's experience with the lost wax process of casting his bronzes is now approaching 40 years and his works can be found in most Western art galleries throughout the United States. Well regarded for his detail and sense of movement his artistry can clearly be seen in this impressive bronze. The condition of this bronze sculpture is good with no obvious signs of damage and shows good overall condition. The measurements of this bronze sculpture are 10" x 4 7/8" x 4 5/8".
North American Auction Company
Jul. 09, 2022
"E.E. Heika Sculptor Of The American West"
Est: $150 - $300
For your consideration is the rare book, "E.E. Heikka Sculptor of the American West" by Vivian A. Paladin, special limited edition #12 of 299; 1990 published by the Montana Art Investment Holding Company, Great Falls, Montana, in association with C. M. Russell Museum, Great Falls, Montana. The life of Earl E. Heikka and his art: cowboys in action, pack trains, scenes from Butte's deep mines, vigilantes, country doctors, riders for the Pony Express.....all subjects of Heikka's magnificent bronzes featuring life in early Montana. 125 pages with text illustrations and 53 colour and B/W plates of the artist's works including: Bear Tracks, Cree Indian Warrior, The Drifter, Morning Frolic, Old-Time Prospector, Trophy Hunter, etc. A biographical monograph on the work of Earle Erik Heikka (1910-1941), the American sculptor who designed figurines and statues of the Old West, miners, and horses. Despite committing suicide at age 31, "he created over two hundred pieces of art that today stand as some of the best sculpture of life and work in the American West." Fine leather-bound hardcover with gilt-stamped titling to the front and spine in a fine matching clothbound slipcase with stamped title to the front and a mounted color plate that wraps around the front to the back. Measures 12.5"H x 9.25"W x .5"D, 12.75"H x 9.5"W in case.
North American Auction Company
May. 21, 2022
E.E. Heikka Sculptor Of The American West"
Est: $150 - $300
For your consideration is a signed book, "E.E. Heikka Sculptor of the American West" by Vivian A. Paladin, published 1990 by the Montana Art Investment Holding Company, Great Falls, Montana, in association with C. M. Russell Museum, Great Falls, Montana. The life of Earl E. Heikka and his art: cowboys in action, pack trains, scenes from Butte's deep mines, vigilantes, country doctors, riders for the Pony Express.....all subjects of Heikka's magnificent bronzes featuring life in early Montana. 125 pages with text illustrations and 53 colour and B/W plates of the artist's works including: Bear Tracks, Cree Indian Warrior, The Drifter, Morning Frolic, Old-Time Prospector, Trophy Hunter, etc. A biographical monograph on the work of Earle Erik Heikka (1910-1941), the American sculptor who designed figurines and statues of the Old West, miners, and horses. Despite committing suicide at age 31, "he created over two hundred pieces of art that today stand as some of the best sculpture of life and work in the American West." Excellent condition for both the book and the dust jacket, no damages noted to either, measurement 12.5"H x 9.25"W x .5"D
North American Auction Company
Feb. 26, 2022
EARLE ERIK HEIKKA STANDING REP BRONZE
Est: $1,500 - $2,000
Rare bronze. Title is "Standing Rep". 12" tall including base. Base is 7" by 8". In 1963 Joe De Yong—Charles M. Russell’s only protégé—wrote a tribute to Earl E. Heikka, "What has received far less attention than deserved is the wholly untrained, yet artistically admirable quality of modeling that was produced in the all-too-short-lifetime of Earl Heikka of Great Falls." Heikka was born in Belt, Montana on May 3, 1910 to Finnish parents. When he was two years old, the family moved to Great Falls. He was only sixteen years-old when Charles Russell died, so it is uncertain how much time, if any, he observed Russell working in his studio in Great Falls. Like Russell, he learned a great deal about big game by hunting and packing. He also learned from spending time in Rumford’s Taxidermy Shop in Great Falls. Unfortunately, his most productive years were during the Great Depression when prices for all goods and services dropped dramatically. Spending on art for even the wealthy was greatly reduced until after WW II. Heikka worked with mainly water-based air drying clay known as Marblex and used solid wire armature anchored to a wooden base. Many of his models were then beautifully and finely painted before they were ready for sale. Best known for his pack train sculptures, often with a number of riders and horses that were designed for mantles in lodges, Heikka sculpted them as his tribute to Glacier National Park and the Rocky Mountains. His finest was Taking Up the Slack, and others included: Trophy Hunters, Bringing Home the Bacon, Sun River Packers, Hunter’s Return, Pack Train, Pack String, and Successful. He was also a master of predicament subjects such as Pursued. Heikka struggled for sales his entire shortened life. Like so many others during the brutal days of the Depression, he committed suicide on May 18, 1941 in Great Falls and left a young family behind. Only a number of years after he died were his models cast in bronze and his sculpting abilities better appreciated. Today, his sculptures are highly prized and collectible.
Davis Brothers Auction
Feb. 26, 2022
EARLE ERIK HEIKKA BRONZE BUFFALO MONTANA
Est: $250 - $350
Title of the work is Buffalo. 11.5" long, 8" wide, 5.5" tall. In 1963 Joe De Yong—Charles M. Russell’s only protégé—wrote a tribute to Earl E. Heikka, "What has received far less attention than deserved is the wholly untrained, yet artistically admirable quality of modeling that was produced in the all-too-short-lifetime of Earl Heikka of Great Falls." Heikka was born in Belt, Montana on May 3, 1910 to Finnish parents. When he was two years old, the family moved to Great Falls. He was only sixteen years-old when Charles Russell died, so it is uncertain how much time, if any, he observed Russell working in his studio in Great Falls. Like Russell, he learned a great deal about big game by hunting and packing. He also learned from spending time in Rumford’s Taxidermy Shop in Great Falls. Unfortunately, his most productive years were during the Great Depression when prices for all goods and services dropped dramatically. Spending on art for even the wealthy was greatly reduced until after WW II. Heikka worked with mainly water-based air drying clay known as Marblex and used solid wire armature anchored to a wooden base. Many of his models were then beautifully and finely painted before they were ready for sale. Best known for his pack train sculptures, often with a number of riders and horses that were designed for mantles in lodges, Heikka sculpted them as his tribute to Glacier National Park and the Rocky Mountains. His finest was Taking Up the Slack, and others included: Trophy Hunters, Bringing Home the Bacon, Sun River Packers, Hunter’s Return, Pack Train, Pack String, and Successful. He was also a master of predicament subjects such as Pursued. Heikka struggled for sales his entire shortened life. Like so many others during the brutal days of the Depression, he committed suicide on May 18, 1941 in Great Falls and left a young family behind. Only a number of years after he died were his models cast in bronze and his sculpting abilities better appreciated. Today, his sculptures are highly prized and collectible.
Davis Brothers Auction
Feb. 26, 2022
EARLE ERIK HEIKKA PURSUED BRONZE
Est: $6,000 - $8,000
Very fine bronze. One of the artist's masterworks. Signed as shown. 16.5" x 19" x 8". In 1963 Joe De Yong—Charles M. Russell’s only protégé—wrote a tribute to Earl E. Heikka, "What has received far less attention than deserved is the wholly untrained, yet artistically admirable quality of modeling that was produced in the all-too-short-lifetime of Earl Heikka of Great Falls." Heikka was born in Belt, Montana on May 3, 1910 to Finnish parents. When he was two years old, the family moved to Great Falls. He was only sixteen years-old when Charles Russell died, so it is uncertain how much time, if any, he observed Russell working in his studio in Great Falls. Like Russell, he learned a great deal about big game by hunting and packing. He also learned from spending time in Rumford’s Taxidermy Shop in Great Falls. Unfortunately, his most productive years were during the Great Depression when prices for all goods and services dropped dramatically. Spending on art for even the wealthy was greatly reduced until after WW II. Heikka worked with mainly water-based air drying clay known as Marblex and used solid wire armature anchored to a wooden base. Many of his models were then beautifully and finely painted before they were ready for sale. Best known for his pack train sculptures, often with a number of riders and horses that were designed for mantles in lodges, Heikka sculpted them as his tribute to Glacier National Park and the Rocky Mountains. His finest was Taking Up the Slack, and others included: Trophy Hunters, Bringing Home the Bacon, Sun River Packers, Hunter’s Return, Pack Train, Pack String, and Successful. He was also a master of predicament subjects such as Pursued. Heikka struggled for sales his entire shortened life. Like so many others during the brutal days of the Depression, he committed suicide on May 18, 1941 in Great Falls and left a young family behind. Only a number of years after he died were his models cast in bronze and his sculpting abilities better appreciated. Today, his sculptures are highly prized and collectible.
Davis Brothers Auction
Jan. 22, 2022
AFTER EARLE ERIK HEIKKA (D.1941) WESTERN BRONZE
Est: $600 - $800
Western patinated bronze sculpture, "When Guns Were Slow," signed in cast after E.E. Heika (Earle Erik Heikka, American, 1910-1941), Heikka Foundry mark, dated 1986, numbered 14/ 1000, approx 17.5"h, 16.5"w, 8.5"d Start Price: $400.00
Austin Auction Gallery
Aug. 31, 2021
Earle E. Heikka, (1910-1941, Montana), "Piegan Scout," 1931, Patinated bronze on wood base, 17.75" H x 12" W x 5" D
Est: $1,500 - $2,000
Earle E. Heikka (1910-1941, Montana) "Piegan Scout," 1931 Patinated bronze on wood base Signed and dated: Heika [sic] / '31; further marked: Heikka Foundry [copyright symbol] / 09; titled to sculpture 17.75" H x 12" W x 5" D Notes: Earl E. Heikka was born in Belt, Montana in 1910 to Finnish parents and subsequently lived and worked in Great Falls, Montana. Heikka is best known for his sculptures depicting Western themes, including animals, miners, Native Americans, and cowboys, that accurately and acutely capture the realism and emotion observed in nature. It was noted that, even as a small child, he had always demonstrated a skill and interest in illustrating wildlife. However, Heikka never received formal training in the fine arts nor attended art school. Nevertheless, Heikka's various occupational experiences afforded him not only the opportunity to study nature, but also to replicate it. He worked as a taxidermist at the Great Falls Sporting Goods Company, was a ranch hand at the Skelton Brothers Ranch near the Highwood Mountains, was a park guide at Glacier National Park, and worked at actor Gary Cooper's family ranch. His background in taxidermy allowed him to further develop his study of animals, which he utilized in his sculptures. Furthermore, Heikka shared Great Falls with prominent Western artist Charles M. Russell, whom he was greatly inspired by, and a number of Heikka's sculptures currently remain in the permanent collection of the C.M. Russell Museum in Great Falls. During his tenure at the Cooper family ranch, Heikka was invited by Gary Cooper to set up a private studio on the property in 1929. The Hollywood actor would serve as a model for Heikka's 1937 sculpture, "Gambler's Luck." It was through Cooper that Heikka was introduced to numerous future patrons of his art, including William Andrews Clark, III, the grandson of mining mogul William A. Clark as well as John D. Ryan, the organizer of the Montana Power Company. Heikka would go on to exhibit works at the Stendahl Galleries in Los Angeles' Ambassador Hotel in 1931, at Chicago's 1933 Century of Progress Exposition, and at the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition in San Francisco. Heikka's original sculptures were hand-painted clay executed in Marblex, a water-based air-drying clay, modeled over a wire armature that would have been further wrapped with fine wire around the exterior in order to lend the pieces better adhesion for the clay. Following a period of grief over the death of his brother and later estrangement from his wife, Heikka committed suicide in 1941 at the age of thirty-one. It was not until the 1960s, however, that collectors began producing editioned bronze casts of his clay sculptures, which became highly sought after and posthumously earned Heikka his reputation as a notable Western artist.
John Moran Auctioneers
Aug. 31, 2021
Earle E. Heikka, (1910-1941, Montana), "Escape," 1932, Cold painted bronze on wood base, 13.5" H x 15" W x 5.25" D
Est: $1,500 - $2,500
Earle E. Heikka (1910-1941, Montana) "Escape," 1932 Cold painted bronze on wood base Edition: 18/36; signed: E.E. Heika [sic]; further marked: JHM Classic Bronze / Tom Bird [copyright symbol] / 1975; titled to plaque 13.5" H x 15" W x 5.25" D Notes: Earl E. Heikka was born in Belt, Montana in 1910 to Finnish parents and subsequently lived and worked in Great Falls, Montana. Heikka is best known for his sculptures depicting Western themes, including animals, miners, Native Americans, and cowboys, that accurately and acutely capture the realism and emotion observed in nature. It was noted that, even as a small child, he had always demonstrated a skill and interest in illustrating wildlife. However, Heikka never received formal training in the fine arts nor attended art school. Nevertheless, Heikka's various occupational experiences afforded him not only the opportunity to study nature, but also to replicate it. He worked as a taxidermist at the Great Falls Sporting Goods Company, was a ranch hand at the Skelton Brothers Ranch near the Highwood Mountains, was a park guide at Glacier National Park, and worked at actor Gary Cooper's family ranch. His background in taxidermy allowed him to further develop his study of animals, which he utilized in his sculptures. Furthermore, Heikka shared Great Falls with prominent Western artist Charles M. Russell, whom he was greatly inspired by, and a number of Heikka's sculptures currently remain in the permanent collection of the C.M. Russell Museum in Great Falls. During his tenure at the Cooper family ranch, Heikka was invited by Gary Cooper to set up a private studio on the property in 1929. The Hollywood actor would serve as a model for Heikka's 1937 sculpture, "Gambler's Luck." It was through Cooper that Heikka was introduced to numerous future patrons of his art, including William Andrews Clark, III, the grandson of mining mogul William A. Clark as well as John D. Ryan, the organizer of the Montana Power Company. Heikka would go on to exhibit works at the Stendahl Galleries in Los Angeles' Ambassador Hotel in 1931, at Chicago's 1933 Century of Progress Exposition, and at the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition in San Francisco. Heikka's original sculptures were hand-painted clay executed in Marblex, a water-based air-drying clay, modeled over a wire armature that would have been further wrapped with fine wire around the exterior in order to lend the pieces better adhesion for the clay. Following a period of grief over the death of his brother and later estrangement from his wife, Heikka committed suicide in 1941 at the age of thirty-one. It was not until the 1960s, however, that collectors began producing editioned bronze casts of his clay sculptures, which became highly sought after and posthumously earned Heikka his reputation as a notable Western artist.
John Moran Auctioneers
Jul. 16, 2021
EARLE ERIK HEIKKA (AMERICAN 1910-1941) BRONZE SCULPTURE, 1931, H 15", W 10", L 33", "GLASSING THE NORTH SLOPE", #16/100
Est: $1,500 - $2,500
Polychrome bronze sculpture depicting a standing figure and a figure on horseback glassing the north slope. Cast signed and dated. Edition 16/100.
DuMouchelles
Jul. 11, 2021
Earle Heikka And Rex Breneman 1918-2008, Bronze, "When I Was A Kid"
Est: $950 - $1,500
"When I was a Kid", Bronze Statue of a Young Cowboy Riding Horse While Holding A Lasso, signed by both Earle EE Heikka and Rex Breneman, Numbered 24/36, Measuring Approximately 12.75 in. x 6.5 in. x 14.25 in. Rex wrote the biography of renowned cowboy artist and sculptor Ace Powell, and was close friends with other influential cowboy artists including Bob Scriver and Earl Heikka.
Clark's Auction Company
May. 25, 2021
Earle E. Heikka, (1910-1941, Montana), "Overland Stagecoach," 1932, Patinated bronze on wood base, 16.5" H x 48" W x 8" D; Overall: 17.
Est: $20,000 - $30,000
Earle E. Heikka (1910-1941, Montana) "Overland Stagecoach," 1932 Patinated bronze on wood base Signed: E.E. Heikka; Further marked: S. Rose / 68 / JHM Classic Bronze Edition: 7/10 16.5" H x 48" W x 8" D; Overall: 17.5" H x 49.5" W x 9.5" D Provenance: Sale: John D. Ryan, Phoenix, AZ, February 7, 1996 Private Collection Palm Springs, CA Exhibitions: Palm Springs, CA, Palm Springs Art Museum, "A Grand Adventure: American Art of the West," 27 September, 2014 - 4 January, 2015 Notes: This lot is accompanied by a bill of sale from John D. Ryan and paperwork pertaining to the Palm Springs Art Museum exhibition. Earl E. Heikka was born in Belt, Montana in 1910 to Finnish parents and subsequently lived and worked in Great Falls, Montana. Heikka is best known for his sculptures depicting Western themes, including animals, miners, Native Americans, and cowboys, that accurately and acutely capture the realism and emotion observed in nature. It was noted that, even as a small child, he had always demonstrated a skill and interest in illustrating wildlife. However, Heikka never received formal training in the fine arts nor attended art school. Nevertheless, Heikka's various occupational experiences afforded him not only the opportunity to study nature, but also to replicate it. He worked as a taxidermist at the Great Falls Sporting Goods Company, was a ranch hand at the Skelton Brothers Ranch near the Highwood Mountains, was a park guide at Glacier National Park, and worked at actor Gary Cooper's family ranch. His background in taxidermy allowed him to further develop his study of animals, which he utilized in his sculptures. Furthermore, Heikka shared Great Falls with prominent Western artist Charles M. Russell, whom he was greatly inspired by, and a number of Heikka's sculptures currently remain in the permanent collection of the C.M. Russell Museum in Great Falls. During his tenure at the Cooper family ranch, Heikka was invited by Gary Cooper to set up a private studio on the property in 1929. The Hollywood actor would serve as a model for Heikka's 1937 sculpture, "Gambler's Luck." It was through Cooper that Heikka was introduced to numerous future patrons of his art, including William Andrews Clark, III, the grandson of mining mogul William A. Clark as well as John D. Ryan, the organizer of the Montana Power Company. Heikka would go on to exhibit works at the Stendahl Galleries in Los Angeles' Ambassador Hotel in 1931, at Chicago's 1933 Century of Progress Exposition, and at the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition in San Francisco. Heikka's original sculptures were hand-painted clay executed in Marblex, a water-based air-drying clay, modeled over a wire armature that would have been further wrapped with fine wire around the exterior in order to lend the pieces better adhesion for the clay. Following a period of grief over the death of his brother and later estrangement from his wife, Heikka committed suicide in 1941 at the age of thirty-one. It was not until the 1960s, however, that collectors began producing editioned bronze casts of his clay sculptures, which became highly sought after and posthumously earned Heikka his reputation as a notable Western artist.
John Moran Auctioneers
May. 25, 2021
William George (b. 1930, American) Cowboy on horseback with stagecoach, 1979 Oil on masonite Signed lower right: William George / 79, a
Est: $700 - $900
William George (b. 1930, American) Cowboy on horseback with stagecoach, 1979 Oil on masonite Signed lower right: William George / 79, and with the copyright symbol, signed and dated again verso, and with the artist's reproduction rights stamp 16" H x 12" W
John Moran Auctioneers
May. 25, 2021
Earle E. Heikka, (1910-1941, Montana), Bear overturning stone, 1938, Patinated bronze on wood base, 5.5" H x 5.25" W x 4" D; Overall: 7
Est: $500 - $700
Earle E. Heikka (1910-1941, Montana) Bear overturning stone, 1938 Patinated bronze on wood base Signed and dated: E. Heikka / 1938 Edition: 35/100 5.5" H x 5.25" W x 4" D; Overall: 7.375" H x 6" W x 4.25" D Provenance: Private Collection Palm Springs, CA Notes: Earl E. Heikka was born in Belt, Montana in 1910 to Finnish parents and subsequently lived and worked in Great Falls, Montana. Heikka is best known for his sculptures depicting Western themes, including animals, miners, Native Americans, and cowboys, that accurately and acutely capture the realism and emotion observed in nature. It was noted that, even as a small child, he had always demonstrated a skill and interest in illustrating wildlife. However, Heikka never received formal training in the fine arts nor attended art school. Nevertheless, Heikka's various occupational experiences afforded him not only the opportunity to study nature, but also to replicate it. He worked as a taxidermist at the Great Falls Sporting Goods Company, was a ranch hand at the Skelton Brothers Ranch near the Highwood Mountains, was a park guide at Glacier National Park, and worked at actor Gary Cooper's family ranch. His background in taxidermy allowed him to further develop his study of animals, which he utilized in his sculptures. Furthermore, Heikka shared Great Falls with prominent Western artist Charles M. Russell, whom he was greatly inspired by, and a number of Heikka's sculptures currently remain in the permanent collection of the C.M. Russell Museum in Great Falls. During his tenure at the Cooper family ranch, Heikka was invited by Gary Cooper to set up a private studio on the property in 1929. The Hollywood actor would serve as a model for Heikka's 1937 sculpture, "Gambler's Luck." It was through Cooper that Heikka was introduced to numerous future patrons of his art, including William Andrews Clark, III, the grandson of mining mogul William A. Clark as well as John D. Ryan, the organizer of the Montana Power Company. Heikka would go on to exhibit works at the Stendahl Galleries in Los Angeles' Ambassador Hotel in 1931, at Chicago's 1933 Century of Progress Exposition, and at the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition in San Francisco. Heikka's original sculptures were hand-painted clay executed in Marblex, a water-based air-drying clay, modeled over a wire armature that would have been further wrapped with fine wire around the exterior in order to lend the pieces better adhesion for the clay. Following a period of grief over the death of his brother and later estrangement from his wife, Heikka committed suicide in 1941 at the age of thirty-one. It was not until the 1960s, however, that collectors began producing editioned bronze casts of his clay sculptures, which became highly sought after and posthumously earned Heikka his reputation as a notable Western artist.
John Moran Auctioneers
May. 15, 2021
Earle E. Heikka (1910-1941) Bronze Horse c. 1934
Est: $1,500 - $3,000
Featured in this lot is this original, exceedingly rare work of art bronze sculpture by Great Falls, Montana artist, Earle E. Heikka (1910-1941). Earle E. Heikka lived a short life of only thirty-one years, but, in that time, he created nearly two hundred pieces of art. The bronze features a wild horse, free of its saddle and harness, with beautiful detail showing the majesty of such a beautiful beast. The piece is signed E.E. Heikka -34, along with 18-30 and (copyright) 75. When he was only nineteen years old, Heikka attracted the attention of William A. Clark III, the grandson of Butte copper king, W. A. Clark. With Clark as his patron, Heikka began to achieve some recognition. With men like Marshall Field, Gary Cooper, and Con Kelley commissioning his work, Heikka's career seemed assured. But then on May 18, 1941, the young artist killed himself, ending his short but brilliant career. Heikka is in the ranks with C.M. Russell as one of Montanas greatest artist, with his work having such great talent and his observation of a passing era of the American Cowboy being timeless. The condition of this bronze is good, with a heavy patina adorning the bronze horse and the ground of the bronze. The measurements of this bronze are 13 1/2" x 14 1/2" x 6 1/2".
North American Auction Company
Jan. 23, 2021
Heikka Montana Bucking Bronco Colored Bronze RARE
Est: $2,750 - $5,000
This is an original, exceedingly rare, work of art bronze sculpture by Great Falls, Montana artist, M.C. Heikka. This piece is titled "Surprised" and shows a Montana cowboy trying to stay in his saddle while his horse rears back at the sight of a coiled rattlesnake. The bronze shows incredible talent as Heikka portrays the action of the cowboy being lifted from the saddle and his hat flying off his head while he grips the reins with all his might. In addition, the bronze has been hand colored. The piece has been signed "MC Heikka" and numbered 9/36 and shows good condition. This is a very rare, life time bronze and is considered one of his finer pieces. The piece is believed to be created by M.C. Heikka, son to Earle E. Heikka or signed in the unusual M.C. by Heikka. The fathers, Earle Heikkas, bronzes have sold at auction for over $23,000. When he was only nineteen years old, Earle Heikka attracted the attention of William A. Clark III, the grandson of Butte copper king, W. A. Clark. With Clark as his patron, Heikka began to achieve some recognition. With men like Marshall Field, Gary Cooper, and Con Kelley commissioning his work, Heikka's career seemed assured. But then on May 18, 1941, the young artist killed himself, ending his short but brilliant career. Heikka is in the ranks with C.M. Russell as one of Montanas greatest artist, with his work having such great talent and his observation of a passing era of the American Cowboy being timeless. It measures 5" x 13.5" and is 18" tall. Earle Heikka bronzes have sold at auction for over $23,000.
North American Auction Company
Nov. 06, 2020
Earle Heikka (American, 1910-1941) Two Recast Bronze Masks, 1974
Est: $600 - $800
Earle Heikka (American, 1910-1941) Two Recast Bronze Masks, 1974 bronze, edition 7 each signed E.E. Heikka and numbered (verso) largest 6 1/2 x width 4 x depth 2 1/2 inches
Hindman
Jun. 23, 2020
Earle Erik Heikka, (1910-1941, Montana), Cowboy tying down the load on his packhorse, 1931, Polychrome painted plaster, canvas and twin
Est: $600 - $900
Earle Erik Heikka (1910-1941, Montana) Cowboy tying down the load on his packhorse, 1931 Polychrome painted plaster, canvas and twine Inscribed signature and date: E. E. Heika 9.25" H x 16" W x 6" D
John Moran Auctioneers