Original Art Creations by Artist:
Larry Richardson

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I have researched over 1200 sites on Native American regalia. In conclusion, the authenticity and quality of Larry's work as well as this collection does not exist anywhere in the world!

My name is Tom Manno,

And for the first time ever, I am introducing my private collection to the general public for sale. I have been a collector of Native American regalia all my life. In the late 1980’s I met a man who was and still is renowned as the best museum quality reproduction artist of Native American regalia in the world. His name was Larry Richardson. Born in Ithaca, N.Y. in 1918 of Iroquois ( Mohawk ) decent, Larry evolved as a great artisan of this medium throughout his life. What made Larry so unique is that he had a vast variety of knowledge in every medium known to this industry. Many Indians specialize in different artistic mediums. Larry did it all ! He was an incredible wood carver which was a dominant specialty to the Northwest Coast, Canadian and even his own Iroquois tribes. Larry carved stone as well. He was astute as a silversmith and inlay artist. His quill stitching was something to behold, using traditional methods of deriving the colors through boiling the quills in roots, bark, berries and leaves. He used the same items to derive his paint colors as well. His beadwork and leatherwork was admired by the best. Every medium known to Native Americans was exemplified in his work. Larry painstakingly sought after acquiring the same beads, hawkbells, brassbeads, buttons, tacks and other items which adorned his work from the 1800’s. Larry had a library full of literature on these subjects. He also had great relations with museum curators which allowed Larry to closely document actual items in which Larry duplicated. In all instances when finished, even an expert would have a difficult time distinguishing the difference between the real piece and Larry’s reproduction. Because of Larry’s purist approach with these items, curators from Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona among others, had no restrictions with Larry. His finished work has been shown and sold in many western art galleries within these states. The one gallery in Arizona familiar to local residents would be Troy’s Western Heritage Gallery in Old Town Scottsdale.

Larry’s work resides in museums throughout the U.S. and abroad. He has sold his work to collectors throughout the world. Sid Billings, former owner of Grey Wolf of Old Town Scottsdale is someone who can attest to the quality of Larry’s work. Grey Wolf is a gallery that specializes in Native American reproductions . In over twenty years of owning the gallery and witnessing hundreds of artisans within the same medium, Sid has always stated “Larry Richardson was the best I have ever seen!” By-the-way, Sid still owns some of Larry’s work as well. Other artists such as Don Crowley from Tucson, Arizona was greatly influenced by Larry’s work. Don was inducted into the Cowboy Artists of America Association in 1995. Don’s first showing at the 30th Anniversary of the Cowboy Artists of America show in Phoenix included one of Don’s finest paintings called “Spirit of The Bear”, which depicted three Native Americans dancing around a fire wearing grizzly bear dance robes. They were simply three different angles (photos) of the same dance robe which Larry had created for a doctor who resided in Phoenix; One of Larry’s finest pieces. Don not only was influenced by Larry’s work in creating “Spirit of the Bear,” but is also a collector of Larry's work as well.

Larry Richardson was not only a great artisan , he was even a greater man. His passion for people and life was exemplified through his work. I should know; I represented Larry for 8 years and got to know the man quite well before he passed away at the age of 79 in 1997 . I own some of his finest works , one of a kind and never seen before and I am ready to let the rest of the world enjoy them as I have through the years.

Contact: Tom Manno 602-820-3398