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Santa Domingo Pueblo Painted War Shield circa 1870

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:25.00 USD Estimated At:10,000.00 - 15,000.00 USD
Santa Domingo Pueblo Painted War Shield circa 1870
This is an exceptionally rare & important polychrome painted war shield attributed to the Santa Domingo Pueblo and dating to circa 1870. This war shield was purchased in 1920 by Lorenzo Hubbell from a Santo Domingo Pueblo Native American Indian whose father had used the shield in war skirmishes. The piece was on display at the Hubbell Trading Post and Museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico until it was purchased by noted American Indian Art Collector, Forrest Fenn. The piece was later sold to well-known and respected collector, historian, and author John Baldwin in the late 1980’s. The piece is pictured in full color in the 2002 publication book, “Indian Guns, Spears & Shields of the American Frontier” by John Baldwin, page 100 figure 431. The circa 1870 shield is created from smoked Buffalo shoulder hump hide being ¼ inch thick. The polychrome pigment mineral painted design represents the blue sky, the five positions of the sun, and the two bars representing the Earth with rain and sunlight streaming down. The back side of the shield has incised designs carved into the hide depicting a Pueblo with rain and lightning coming down. The piece still shows the original arm straps and the original Hubbell Trading Post tag and museum tag. The Hubbell Trading Post and Museum still exists, but is now a National Historic site and gift shop. This is truly one of the rarest, published examples with exceptional art appeal and documented history every brought to sale. The pictures show the cover, page with the photograph, and written reference to the shield from John Baldwin’s book. From the Ex-Collection of Forest Fenn and John Baldwin Collection. The shield measures 22 inches in diameter and is in very fine well preserved museum quality condition.