This is a phenomenal, well documented war shield from the South Piegan Blackfeet Indians of Montana Lone Eaters Society, dating to the Indian Wars era of the 19th Century, from Running Crane, Joe Iron Pipe and the John C. Hellson collection. The piece is from the noted Piegan author and collector John C. Hellson with accompanying signed letter of provenance as such. The shield exhibits very thick Great American Bison buffalo hump rawhide with polychrome mineral pigment paint in deep ocher red with a single lone wolf, dog or bear effigy at the center. The wolf, dog or bear has a hump, like that of a Grizzly Bear with long menacing claws on each paw having a black outline and grey like coloring. To either side of the lone bear shows Indian tanned hide ties holding a total of eight solid brass falcon or hawk trade bells as well as remnants of porcupine quill quillwork in natural cream coloring. The shield previously bore three drops of hawk and eagle feathers, as documented by the museum photographs from the Flehlson Papers (photo shown for reference). The back shows various thick Indian tanned Buffalo hide ties, an arm loop, a bit of hide on Bear hide and strips of fringed hide hanging from two ties, as well as on the top a tie of braided prairie grass like for good medicine. It was noted by someone as a Brave Dogs Shield. The letter of provenance notes the shield as being formerly owned by Joe Iron Pipe, father of Jennie Running Crane, wife of Paul Running Crane. Purchased from a tribal policeman, Browning, Montana in 1969; Ethnographic data record October 1st 1986 from the South Piegan. Joe Iron Pipe of the Blackfeet, a photo of Joe Iron Pipe his wife Julia Iron Pipe and their daughter Blackfeet (Pikuni) circa 1930 is shown. Another photograph titled, “Piegan Chiefs (Blackfoot Confederacy) Visity Carlisle Indian School (ca. 1891)” shows Running Crane, Chief of the Lone Eaters Society / Band, front row on the far left; noted as direct relative of Joe Iron Pipe. The Lone Eaters Society of the Piegan (Pi-kun’-i) know to them as Ni-taw´-yiks were a documented society of the Piegan during the Indian Wars. Not much is known of the Lone Eaters. For additional reference see the book, “Fools Crow” 1986 by James Welch, a historic novel which documents the Blackfeet Pikuni and Fools Crow who was a member of the Lone Eaters Society or Lone Eaters Band which were near the Marias River which flows east out of the Rocky Mountains in western Montana before it joins the Missouri River north of Fort Benton. This shield could possibly bear what could have been the Lone Eaters mark. South Piegan or Southern Piegan is an also referred to as the Southern Piikani tribe of Montana of the Blackfoot / Blackfeet Nation (also known as Amskipi Pikani). John C. Hellson (1932-2016) was the author of, “Ethnobotany of the Blackfoot Indians” 1974 published by the National Museum of Canada, Ottawa, and was from the Manitoba Museum of Man and Nature. Provenance: From the John C. Hellson Blackfeet expert, author and collector as well as from the Manitoba Museum of Man and Nature; Joe Iron Pipe Blackfeet collection; Running Crane Lone Eaters Society collection; as well as a private Montana collection curated between 1981-1990 from such dealers and shops as Bud Beyer, Ray Miller, John Helson, etc... The shield is well kept and measures 17.5” in diameter.*

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