Bear Society Shield
Bear Societies honoured the lordly spirit, bravery and fighting strength of the bear. Acceptance into a bear society was most prestigious; members were to be feared and respected. By putting the bear on his shield, the warrior received the bear's attributes in battle. This design shows the bear at the entrance of a cave protecting his family from the attack of its enemy. In the middle of his shield, a warrior placed his personal medicine bundle. This one contains buffalo hair, sage, sweetgrass and a buffalo tooth. A piece of deer antler and glass trade bead hang from the bundle. The trade cloth and feathers representing coups, or battle honours, were arranged to permit the warrior to fire his bow effectively without losing the shield's protective power.
Approximately 21'' by 36''.
£299.99
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Victory Shield
The shield portrays Chief Hump and the Minneconjou Sioux defeating a traditional enemy, the Crow. In battle Chief Hump carried only a coup stick and a personal medecine shield bearing his namesake, a bull buffalo with a large hump. The buffalo gave Chief Hump the medicine for victory.
This shield, a classic example of pictographic Lakota art, is decorated with turkey feathers, ribbon and trade cloth.
Approximately 21" by 36".
£369.99
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Chief Crazy Horse Shield
His name personifying the bravery, wisdom and spirit of the legendary Sioux warriors, Tasunka Witka- Crazy Horse - was one of the greatest Sioux chiefs. He was a member of the Thunder Cult and painted his body with symbols of Thunder Beings. Hail (the white and blue circles) and lightning (the yellow slashes down the center) are manifestations of these beings. The red color and the center cluster of feathers symbolize the red-backed hawk tied to the hair of Crazy Horse before he rode into battle. The centre feather (representing the eagle), is a reminder of the lone feather Crazy Horse wore.
Approximately 21'' by 42''.
£299.99
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Black War Bonnet Shield
In traditional Lakota culture, black came from the West and meant danger and death. The Black War Bonnet warrior was the fiercest. He was feared by all; no one crossed his path. Putting the black design on a shield or buffalo robe held back death. It meant invulnerability. The white in this collection represents life. Together, the two colours say in effect that this owner will not go into the next life until the proper time. Attached to this shield are a quilled medicine wheel, red trade cloth and seven coup feathers representing the eagle.
Approximately 21'' by 40''.
£399.99
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Buffalo Track Shield
Because the buffalo meant life itself to Plains Indians and played such a central role in their beliefs, it was honoured in many ways. This shield shows human footprints following buffalo hoofprints, indicating how nomadic tribes depended on living close to the buffalo. This design also represents a tracking expedition occurring under the cover of a crescent moon. The shield is decorated with feathers the colour of the buffalo, horsehair locks to honor the horses in the hunt, deer toes to give the hunter the agility of the deer, and uniquely twisted leather strands to give the hunter the speed of the wind during the hunt.
Approximately 21'' by 48''.
£599.99
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Wolf Shield
The wolf figures prominently in the story of the birth of the Lakota Nation. Iktomi, the legendary trickster, and the wolf used false promises to lure the Lakota from the underworld, where life was good and untroubled. Once upon the earth's surface they could not return, and they did not know how to survive. The wolf realised he had done wrong, and took them to Wazi, the rattlesnake master, and Wakanka, the old woman. They were given food and taken to Paha Sapa, the Black Hills, where they were taught how to thrive and became the great Lakota Nation.
The shield is trimmed with trade cloth, ribbon, old trade beads, abalone shells and coyote fangs.
Approximately 21" in diameter.
£299.99
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Turtle Shield
The turtle was honored by the Lakota because it represented good health and a long life, its shell symbolized protection. The turtle's special power and stature were conferred to the owner of objects displaying the turtle emblem.
This shield is decorated with feathers representing the eagle and brass bells.
Approximately 21" in diameter.
£299.99
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Cow Shield
When European settlers arrived in Cheyenne country in the 1800s, they brought domestic animals. Although this Cheyenne shield represents a domestic cow and its hoof prints, it honours all animalsfor their food and clothing value.
The shield features turkey feathers, earth paints and genuine sinew.
Approximately 21" in diameter.
£299.99
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Thunderbird Shield
Among the dominant spiritual forces in Plains Indian culture were the Thunder Beings, who appeared in two primary forms. The Thunderbird was the representative of the Thunder Beings in the sky, and the Thunder Horse was the presence on the earth. They came from the West, and had the power to cause thunder and lightning, resulting in rain. With four imitation eagle feathers along with turkey tail feathers, this shield was used in the Thunderbird part of Sun Dances.
Approximately 21''in diameter.
£299.99
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Thunderhorse Shield
The rainbow on the shield represents harmony in the heavens. The feathers show that the Thunder Horse dwells in the stars like the birds. The horse, stomping to cause thunder, wore a make and horns to represent a war spirit. The shield has turkey feathers, brass bells, tin cones and a coyote fang.
Approximately 21''in diameter.
£299.00
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Elk Dreamer Shield
Because the male elk will fight to his death to protect his mate, Plains Indians naturally chose it as a symbol of love and power. An Elk Dreamer was one who saw elk in his vision and thereby obtained the power of elk medicine. If a young man had trouble finding a mate, if spouses were fighting, the Elk Dreamer was sought because he had the power to help. He had influence over affairs of the heart, particularly courting men and women. This shield identifies the owner as having the power of elk medicine. The bull elk painted on the shield is radiating love medicine. The Black Hills are pictured in the background. Four love medicine bags containing sweet-smelling flowers native to the hills and prairie are attached to the shield.
Approximately 21'' in diameter.
£225.99
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Buffalo Shield
Since the buffalo were vital to the survival of the Plains Indian tribes, this shield projected special medicine to assure productive hunts. The buffalo face symbol asks the spirit of the buffalo to be along on all hunts. The four stripes represent an abundance of buffalo, as well as respect for the four cardinal directions. The yellow design around the edge represents Paha Sapa, the Black Hills of South Dakota, a sacred place where the Great Spirit provides for his people.
This shield is made with earth paints, trade cloth, turkey tail feathers, tin cones, brass bells, buffalo hair, horse hair and old handmade glass beads.
Approximately 21" in diameter.
£299.99
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Counting Coup Shield
The circle of feathers between the black and yellow on this shield represent the transition from one world to the next. The shield also has horsehair to revere the horse, whose performance in battle was vital. The shield has fringed leather, glass beads and feathers representing the hawk.
Approximately 21" by 38".
£399.99
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First Rain Shield
Plains Indians were always grateful for the arrival of Spring. The first soaking rain, considered to be a great cleanser of the earth, was especially welcome. Impending rain or storms were foretold by the behavior of birds, the spiritual patrollers of the skies. A messengers for the spirits, they signaled coming events, including weather. The raven, a bird of great wisdom, would talk to people, predicting events and recommending courses of action. Swallows, with their characteristic acrobatic flying agility, would appear when the rainstorm had passed signaling that it was safe again. This shield shows a raven in a darkened sky with lightning bolts jumping from its beak, eyes and wings. Playful swallows dart in a yellow glow. The shield is trimmed with feathers representing the raven.
Approximately 21'' by 28''.
£369.99
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Ghost Dance Shield
The Ghost Dance was perhaps the most rigorous of all Plains Indian dances. It is based upon an old vision that revealed that at some point the earth would flood. During the flood, all white people and Indians who were not respected would be washed away. Birds, aided by the upward draw of the moon and stars would lift Indians who traveled the red road, the road of correct life, into the sky to be united with relatives who had died previously. When the water went away, the Indians on the red road would be returned to the purged earth. The grass and buffalo would be returned and things would be as they were in the old days, when times were good, before the white man.
The shield has brass bells, turkey tail feathers and feathers representing the eagle.
Approximately 21" in diameter.
£299.99
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New Moon Shield
The moon and its phases were a natural time marker for Plains Indians, and were also used to denote important transitions in one's life. Marriage, for example - a new moon would represent that beginning point. As tribal members honored the joining of a man and woman, this collection brings together many symbols that favor fertility, peace, harmony and unity.
This shield is decorated with goosewing and rooster tail feathers, brass bells and sweetgrass.
Approximately 21" in diameter and hangs 52".
£549.00
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Rotten Belly Shield
In Plains Indian societies there were contrary people who, because of a sacred vision associated with the Thunder Beings, had to assume the role of doing things that were in direct conflict with the normal way life should be conducted. If you were to be quiet during a dance, these contrary people would make noise. If you were not to smoke during a ceremony, they would smoke. Contrary people went through a terrible internal struggle. They were also teachers. By performing their unacceptable actions, they showed the young clearly what not to do.
This shield is trimmed with turkey feathers, a grass-stuffed ermine, brass bells and a coyote fang.
Approximately 21'' in diameter.
£299.99
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Red Hand Shield
The hand print is a signature of ownership and stature. Among Plains Indians, it was reserved for those who had successfully provided for their people. In peacetime the markings represent wisdom, responsibility and resourcefulness. At war they mean strength, courage and cunning. Red stands for the earth and the life-sustaining blood of the people. The dominant fringe represents the wind spirit that surrounds us at all times. Braiding represents the unity of the people. The shield protects the warrior in combat and symbolically protects his home. It contains a personal bundle, medicine wheel, charms, deer toes to bring speed and agility, imitation eagle feathers to empower the owner, and fringe of twisted strands that represent whirlwinds, a power among wind spirits.
Approximately 21'' by 30''.
£399.99
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Black War Bonnet Painted Buffalo Robe
Black is the dominant color of the Black War Bonnet Society. In traditional Lakota culture, black came from the West and meant danger and death. The Black War Bonnet warrior was the fiercest. He was feared by all; no one crossed his path. Putting the black design on a buffalo robe held back death. It meant vulnerability. The white represents life. Together, the two colors say, in effect, that this owner will not go into the next life until the proper time. The design is painted on a natural top quality buffalo robe. The size is approximately 89"" by 66"". Running through the middle is a painted strip with three black and white porcupine-quilled wheels and red porcupine quilled bars representing the road of life.
£999.99
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Hunt Record Elk Robe
This robe displays a pictographic history of one brave's record of his hunt. The top shows horses used in different years and fellow tribe members who accompanied the owner on hunts. The bottom records each individual hunt. Horses and riders are painted on the robe. The hunt record is put on with white Italian glass beads and red wool tassels. At the bottom hang deer dew claws and elk horn buttons. The elk robe is approximately 70'' by 60'' in size.
£999.99
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