June 24, 2023 Brian Lebel's Santa Fe Old West Events Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/24/2023
A mid-1800's Native American painted pictorial hide shield with central bird figure, human heads, animals and crosses decorating a hide covering. Sinew wrapped horsehair drops across the top quarter. The hide shield cover is laid on the original circular and convex buffalo hide shield, most likely the heavy hump hide. One of the finest shields we have come across and great example of the art created by the Native American tribes. The pictograph illustrations are strong and colors remain vibrant though worn. Yellow, red and blue pigment, 18" diameter and 3" deep. 2 missing hair drops, remnants of decorations along the top.
American Indian shields were used in battle as protection not only as how we normally think of a shield but more importantly as spiritual, the power of the symbolic image, the thunderbird with it's other images protects it's owner and was most likely created from a vision or dream the owner would have had before battle.
Item Dimensions: 3"T. x 18 - 1/2"D.