This is an exceptional hand craved Cigar Store Indian dated from the 19th C. Provenance: The Cigar Store Indian was acquired from an extensive early American and Native American artifact collection from Kansas City, Missouri. Much in the traditional manner of classic Cigar Store Indians from makers such as Samuel Robb, this statue features the colorful headdress, accent fringed shawl, patterned high top moccasins and a fringe accented skirt all in polychrome paint that seems to be quite early and original. The American Indians first brought tobacco to the white settlers and much later these colorfully-dressed Indians would beckon patrons into their cigar stores. Cigar store Indians such as this have been one of the most sought after and valued Old West items. The Indian statue is believed to have been outside an Illinois Cigar Store in the mid to late 19th century. This piece shows to be a solid wood carving. A fair amount of paint loss has occurred but the piece shows minimum cracking. Because of the general illiteracy of the populace, early store owners used descriptive emblems or figures to advertise their shops' wares; for example, barber poles advertise barber shops, show globes advertised apothecaries and the three gold balls represent pawn shops. American Indians and tobacco had always been associated because American Indians introduced tobacco to Europeans, and the depiction of native people on smoke-shop signs was almost inevitable. As early as the 17th century, European tobacconists used figures of American Indians to advertise their shops. Shows wear consistent with age. Measures: 63" H x 12" W x 12" D

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