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Arapaho Ghost Dance Waterbird Dance Shield 1890

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:25.00 USD Estimated At:3,000.00 - 6,000.00 USD
Arapaho Ghost Dance Waterbird Dance Shield 1890
Advertising, Firearms, Antiques, Collectibles, Antique Furniture, Native American Artifacts, Navajo Jewelry, Silver, Gold, Montana History Artifacts, Navajo Indian Rugs, Taxidermy Mounts, Slot Machines, Cash Registers, Early Chinese Artifacts.
The lot features an Arapaho Ghost Dance Shield from circa 1890. The shield is from the past collections of Ben Thompson and Tom Hardy. The piece is comprised of a thick parfleche circular base covered with brain-tanned buckskin hide pulled and stretched over it. The front is painted in old pigment mineral ocher dyes of black, green, red, and yellow with the Ghost Dance symbols of the flying waterbird, lightening bolts, half moon, moons, and both four and five point morning stars. The top of the shield is adorned with old red stroud clothe cute at the bottom into serrated fringes. The original arm bands are still attached on the back and have some minor discoloration from sweat stains and use. True Ghost Dance relics are extremely rare and sought after. This piece shows the correct symbols and manufacture to be a true Ghost dance piece. The shield measures 17.5" x 19.75".