Native American, Central/Southern Plains, probably Cheyenne, Black Hawk, or Crow, ca. late 19th to early 20th century CE. An incredibly lightweight shield meant to be wielded while riding on horseback. The circular shield is comprised of a thick buffalo hide panel that is stretched around a bent wooden ring, secured with stitching along the peripheries, and bound on the verso in a massive knot of sinew and skin that doubled as the handle grip. The front face bears an abstract anthropomorphic figure with a pair of prominent horns, a bulbous body with an open bottom, and a single arm holding a feathered coup staff meant to recount valiant acts and heroic feats in battle. Traces of orange, red-orange, yellow, blue, white, and black pigment are visible around the figure and suggest the obverse was painted with vibrant pigments at one time. Shields like this were made either with a single hide layer - for carrying two at once on horseback - or with multiple layers for hand-to-hand combat. An exceedingly rare and intact example! Size: 15.2" W x 15.5" H (38.6 cm x 39.4 cm)

Shields like this example were typically used in combat or wartime situations because of the thickness the buffalo hide provided in protecting the wielder. Dancing shields were of a smaller form and made from thinner material so the performer could easily maneuver the shield, and buffalo hide enabled the warrior to protect themselves from incoming projectiles as well as clubs swung by an opponent.

An example of a Cheyenne hide shield hammered for $108,000 at Christie's, New York "Important American Indian Art from A Private Western Collection" auction (sale 1688, January 12, 2006, lot 160).

An example of a Crow hide shield hammered for $81,250 at Sotheby's, New York "Arts of the American West" auction (May 22, 2013, lot 86).

Provenance: private Glorieta, New Mexico, USA collection, acquired between 2017 and 2018; ex-private Bernalillo, New Mexico, USA collection

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#152227

Old area of wood frame protruding through top of hide. Deformation to overall structure commensurate with age and desiccation of hide, with fading to original pigmentation, minor abrasions to obverse and peripheries, and fraying to some bound threads on verso, otherwise intact and excellent. Great remains of original pigment throughout.