$39,975
Two Historic Lakota German Silver Pendants Owned by Famed Chiefs Red Cloud and Spotted Tail, c. 1850s, the first cloud-shaped form with hide suspension, engraved on the front with four-petal and arrow design, the back with etched figure of a man wearing a similar pectoral, and ink inscription reads "Ornament Red Cloud," the accompanying envelope with pencil note, "Ornament Red Cloud Indian Chief," written by William Starring and stamped from his post at "Headquarters, Department of the Columbia, Vancouver Barracks, Washington Territory," lg. of pectoral 6 in.; the second pectoral with buffalo hide suspension loop, rocker engraved quatrefoil and spider web design, inscribed on the back, "Ornament of Spotted Tail Sioux Chief," with similar marked envelope from the Headquarters, Department of the Columbia, lg. 7 1/2 in.; both pectorals have a hole at bottom center for an additional suspension, and a patina that is consistent with a mid-19th century date. Provenance: Both pendants collected by William Starring. Note: According to previous research, these gorgets were probably given to William Starring in the fall of 1866 at Fort Laramie, where he is known to have been stationed at the time. Plains Indians did not prefer the trade silver gorgets found in eastern North America, but instead favored the variant shape called "Pectoral," adopted primarily by the Kiowa, Cheyenne, Teton Sioux, and Shoshone. They were made primarily of German silver, an alloy of nickel, zinc, Read more…
Auctioneer:
Skinner
Date:
2015-03-14
