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WONDERFUL PAINTED BUFFALO ROBE, NORTHERN CHEYENNE

Currency:USD Category:Clothing, Shoes & Accessories / Women's Clothing Start Price:7,500.00 USD Estimated At:15,000.00 - 20,000.00 USD
WONDERFUL PAINTED BUFFALO ROBE, NORTHERN CHEYENNE
WONDERFUL PAINTED BUFFALO ROBE, NORTHERN CHEYENNE, CIRCA 1880. Native tanned buffalo robe, painted with various scenes of The Battle of the Little Bighorn, 1876. Until recently this robe was retained by descendants of the original Cheyenne artist. The last owner said, I received it from my mother who got it from her mother after her death. I was told it was made after the Battle of the Little Big Horn and kept by my grandfather, Wolf and his wife Magpie. They were relocated at some point to Arkansas to work picking cotton. My grandfater, after two years, took his family north to Illinois. He was given the English name Abraham Dean from the agency. The robe was carried by them throughout their travels. I belive he was the one who repainted the blue on the soldiers, trying to preserve the images." A description prepared by Paul Raczka on 09/15/01 states, "Several interesting images are represented on this buffalo hide. It appears that two groups of U.S. military have attacked a Cheyenne camp. One group (near the tail) has been isolated and wiped out by a group of Indians shooting from behind hills and several on foot, charging the soldiers. The second group (in the middle of the hide) appears on its last legs with Indians shooting from the hillsides and a major force of Cheyenne riding out from the camp and encircling them. While this appears to be the gist of the story, there are numerous interesting details contained in the overall drawing. The riding group appears to have come out from the camp (indicated by the horse tracks toward the head of the hide). Each of the mounted warriors is dressed in his finest, wearing bonnets, split horn headdresses, trade silver concho belts, war shirts, beaded leggings, face paint, and a number are carrying painted shields or feathered lances. Their horses are also elaborately painted. The camp itself contains numerous painted lodges, meat drying on racks and saddles lying on the ground. This would indicate the camp was taken by surprise. It would be interesting to speculate that this portrays the Battle of the Little Big Horn. Certainly the images suggest that. We have the two groups of military, the hills, the camp taken by surprise, and the cap with the warriors riding out to give battle. Unfortunately we don't have further documentation to press this attribution. The strongest points for this painting would be the elaborate dress of the mounted warriors, face paintings and horse paintings. It is rare to find so many and such intricate details on one drawing. Another strong point is the numerous painted lodges, which give us a good viewpoint of the types and styles of Cheyenne painted lodges. For the enthusiast of Cheyenne material culture, this robe presents a wealth of information." CONDITION: Cavalry figures over painted, hide somewhat desiccated, 12" tear leading from one side, two foot tear along hump, and sundry other breaks in the leather. SIZE: 8' tall x 8' 4" wide. 4-55279 (15,000-20,000)"