New Generation Auction

Kepner/Jensen Estate Auction

Antique Native American Baskets and Rugs


These baskets and rugs were originally gifts provided to several generations of Kepners and Innesses in the early 20th century, gathered by Ed or Thomas Grindell, a swashbuckling figure in the Kepner line (member of Roosevelt's "Rough Riders," adventurer and explorer). The large urn-shaped basket was one of the late Janet Kepner's earliest memories; she was born in 1929. Several of these baskets are museum pieces, in quality and substance.

The below listing provides a quick option potential viewers to see an easy list of material in the Kepner/Jensen auction. See our HiBid Auction for photos and more information on these items!
  • Lot 306: Papago Vintage Handwoven Basket Handmade -- approx 18 inch tall x 13 inch wide at the shoulders, this museum-quality basket was gifted to the Kepner family sometime in the 1920s by Ed or Thomas Grindell, a close cousin and swashbuckling explorer (he was in Teddy Roosevelt's "Rough Riders").
  • Lot 308: Papago Indian Basket handmade early 1900's Animal figural basket -- approx 18 inch wide x 7 inch tall. This museum-quality basket was gifted to the Kepner family sometime in the 1920s by Ed Grindell, a close cousin and swashbuckling explorer (he was in Teddy Roosevelt's "Rough Riders"). Other Papago baskets of that era are available in this auction: https://hibid.com/catalog/444693/rare-civil-war--indian-baskets-andrugs-button-collection?q=papago
  • Lot 320: 1940's Papago Indian handmade Basket- bowl-approx 11 inch wide Native American Baskets. See https://hibid.com/catalog/444693/rare-civil-war--indian-baskets-andrugs-button-collection?q=grindell for more baskets from the Grindell/Kepners.
  • Lot 321: 1940's Papago Indian basket -handmade bowl-approx 9 inch wide x 2 inch deep -Native American Basket. See https://hibid.com/catalog/444693/rare-civil-war--indian-baskets-andrugs-button-collection?q=grindell for more baskets from the Grindell/Kepners.
  • Lot 322: 1940's Papago Indian basket -handmade bowl / plate -approx 7.5 inch wide Native American Basket. See https://hibid.com/catalog/444693/rare-civil-war--indian-baskets-andrugs-button-collection?q=grindell for more baskets from the Grindell/Kepners.
  • Lot 323: 1940's Apache handmade souvenir basket- approx 10.5" wide x 5" deep Native American - the word \xD4Tucson' is weaved in the basket. See https://hibid.com/catalog/444693/rare-civil-war--indian-baskets-andrugs-button-collection?q=grindell for more baskets from the Grindell/Kepners.
  • Lot 324: 1940's handmade Native American handmade basket-approx 10 inch wide and approx 4.5 inch deep. See https://hibid.com/catalog/444693/rare-civil-war--indian-baskets-andrugs-button-collection?q=grindell for more baskets from the Grindell/Kepners.
  • Lot 325: Mid 1900's handmade Native basket- approx 9 inch wide-unknown which country or native tribe of origin. See https://hibid.com/catalog/444693/rare-civil-war--indian-baskets-andrugs-button-collection?q=grindell for more baskets from the Grindell/Kepners.
  • Lot 326: Mid 1900's handmade Native basket- approx 9 inch wide-unknown which country or Native tribe of origin. See https://hibid.com/catalog/444693/rare-civil-war--indian-baskets-andrugs-button-collection?q=grindell for more baskets from the Grindell/Kepners.
  • Lot 327: Early 1900's Native Pima tribe handmade American basket- approx 7 inches wide - label says Mary Grindell, relative of Ed or Thomas Grindell, adventurers and early Arizonans, who brought back gift baskets for relatives in Iowa and Nebraska. See https://hibid.com/catalog/444693/rare-civil-war--indian-baskets-andrugs-button-collection?q=grindell for more baskets from the Grindell/Kepners.
  • Lot 328: Early 1900's Pima tribe handmade Native American basket- approx 6.5 inch wide - label says Mary Grindell, relative of Ed or Thomas Grindell, adventurers and early Arizonans, who brought back gift baskets for relatives in Iowa and Nebraska. See https://hibid.com/catalog/444693/rare-civil-war--indian-baskets-andrugs-button-collection?q=grindell for more baskets from the Grindell/Kepners.
  • Lot 329: Early 1900's Native Pima handmade Native American basket- approx 9 inch wide - label says Grindell, a relative of Ed or Thomas Grindell, adventurers and early Arizonans, who brought back gift baskets for relatives in Iowa and Nebraska. See https://hibid.com/catalog/444693/rare-civil-war--indian-baskets-andrugs-button-collection?q=grindell for more baskets from the Grindell/Kepners.
  • Lot 335: 1900's Navajo Rug approx 49 inch x 70 inch -Note: natural dye has run. Likely a gift from Ed or Thomas Grindell, adventurers and early Arizonans, who brought back Native baskets as gifts for relatives in Iowa and Nebraska in the early 1900s. See https://hibid.com/catalog/444693/rare-civil-war--indian-baskets-andrugs-button-collection?q=grindell for more baskets from the Grindell/Kepners.
  • Lot 336: Early Tourist Trade Mexican Rug-8 ft x approx 8 ft x 3.5 ft. Likely a gift from Ed or Thomas Grindell, adventurers and early Arizonans, who brought back gift baskets for relatives in Iowa and Nebraska in the early 1900s. See https://hibid.com/catalog/444693/rare-civil-war--indian-baskets-andrugs-button-collection?q=grindell for more baskets from the Grindell/Kepners.
  • Lot 337: Early 1900s Navajo rug -please note: running dye- rug approximately 77" x 44 inches (over 6 ft long). Likely a gift from Ed or Thomas Grindell, adventurers and early Arizonans, who brought back gift baskets for relatives in Iowa and Nebraska in the early 1900s. See https://hibid.com/catalog/444693/rare-civil-war--indian-baskets-andrugs-button-collection?q=grindell for more baskets from the Grindell/Kepners.
  • Lot 338: 1940's Navajo rug - rug approx 68" long x 42 inch wide. Likely a gift from Ed or Thomas Grindell, adventurers and early Arizonans, who brought back gift baskets for relatives in Iowa and Nebraska in the early 1900s. See https://hibid.com/catalog/444693/rare-civil-war--indian-baskets-andrugs-button-collection?q=grindell for more baskets from the Grindell/Kepners.