14

Ca. 1911 Cree Chief Little Bear Photograph

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:100.00 USD Estimated At:200.00 - 300.00 USD
Ca. 1911 Cree Chief Little Bear Photograph
This is an original gelatin silver photograph of Cree / Chippewa Chief Little Bear circa 1911 from the Francoise Perriot collection. The image shows the Little Bear in his tepee / tipi with fantastic beaded dreadlock braids. Little Bear, also known as Macquettpquet or Little Big Bear, was a Cree / Chippewa Chief who lived in Montana Territory, Idaho Territory, Alberta and Saskatchewa. He is known for his participation in the 1885 North-West Rebellion. Little Bear was son of Chief Big Bear with the exact date of his birth being unknown some saying it to be around 1840-1850. He died in 1921. The back of the image is marked, “Chief Little Bear Chippewa / Cree E. 1911”. This appears to be a very well composed photograph in silver gelatin in a typical early tourist fashion, likely the only example of its kind.

Provenance: From the personal collection of Francoise Perriot (Françoise Perriot), noted historian author of the West and Native Americans. Perriot’s published works include such books as “Les Indiens et La Nature” (Indians and Nature) 2017, “La Conquête du Far West” (The Conquest of the Wild West) 2007, “Les Indiens d'Amérique du Nord” (North American Indians), “Guide Bleu : Etats-Unis Ouest Americain” (Blue Guide: United States West America). This piece and others come from her time collecting in Montana and the West, her book “Les Indiens et la nature” is one of the most notable in France documenting photographs of the west.
Measures 5.25” by 3.25”.