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Kiowa Thunderbird Polychrome Painted Shield 19th C

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:200.00 USD Estimated At:1,200.00 - 2,200.00 USD
Kiowa Thunderbird Polychrome Painted Shield 19th C
The lot features a wetted and stretched parfleche shield dating to the 19th Century from the Kiowa Native American Indians featuring a polychrome painted Thunderbird figure. The piece is constructed from bent branch wood hoop with wetted and stretched parfleche rawhide sewn and tied on the back with strips of parfleche. The front shows a faded polychrome painted finish in yellow, black and red ocher mineral pigment dyes. At the center has a yellow Thunderbird with black border around and crescent black section below with red wash throughout. The front shows sinew rawhide tied on adornments including old red stroud wrappings which previously held American Bald Eagle Feathers, which were removed due to the Birds of Prey Act, along with two wound glass trade beads in green and red and a Badger claw. The piece has a nice patina with fading to the paint. Provenance: From a large Native American ex-collection in Helena, Montana and a private collection in Dublin, Ohio. Measures overall 17.5” by 16”.