In the United States, the correlation in market strength between Western and wildlife art has been unmistakable. In fact, many regard them as being one and the same. Since the near meltdown of the global financial markets in autumn 2008, however, the once-bullish demand for fine collectible art in these genres has been in a free fall, registering in gavel figures at auction, revenues at prominent galleries, and hitting contemporary artists hard in fewer sales.

Is there any evidence that recovery is at hand?  The annual Coeur d’Alene Art Auction is regarded by many as a helpful barometer.  Held every July in Reno, Nevada, the event has become a showcase for Western and wildlife art featuring works by both living and deceased artists.

Despite attracting several strong works and hundreds of collectors, the 2010 auction reported a disappointing $9.2 million in total sales, far off the tally of recent record-breaking years.  In 2010, an oil titled Kachina Painter by Eanger Irving Couse recorded the highest price at $753,000. The 1917 piece had a pre-auction estimated sales range of between $800,000 and $1.2 million.  It came up just short of the range.

Kachina Painter was followed by a Gerald Curtis Delano oil, In Bonnet and Paint, at $438,750 and a painter by Joseph Sharp, titled Acoma Pottery Decorators, that reached $380,250.  To put these sales figures in some perspective, last year a watercolor by Charles M. Russell sold for $1.8 million.

Here are a few noteworthy stats to consider.  Of the 308 lots at the 2010 auction, 261 were sold; 47 works went unsold; 82 sold within the range of pre-auction estimate;  50 surpassed the high estimate; and 129 sold for less than their lowest estimate.

Coeur d’Alene raked in an astounding $35.1 million in 2007.  In volatile 2008, the sale represented the last gasp of an exuberant Western and wildlife art market by notching a record $37 million.  Just a year later, in 2009, sales figures plunged to $11.6 million.

What, if anything. do the 2010 Coeur d’Alene results portend for the busy autumn auction season and hopes for a shaking of the fear that appears to be gripping the market?  Stay tuned.  Check back for a recap of auction results pertaining to wildlife paintings and sculpture featured in Reno.