The lot features a polychrome painted buffalo hide medicine shield attributed to the Comanche Native American Indians of Southern Oklahoma in the 19th Century. Provenance: The piece is from the Cyrus Eaton Estate out of London, England and was originally purchased at a Christie’s American Indian Art Auction in New York back in the 1980’s and sold for $12,500. The original tag is included and shown. The shield is comprised of Indian brain tanned Buffalo Bison hide wetted and stretched over a bend wood frame and adorned by polychrome mineral pigment painted finish along the front. The piece has old bison hoof hide glue, sinew, hide lacing and some expected wear from honest age and use. There is a braided hide arm strap still attached on the back side and wear on the back side from use. The shield shows the polychrome pigment mineral painted front with a faded finish and symbols in colors of black, green, yellow, and red that appear to be three four-pointed morning stars and a sunburst or possibly a sunrise in the center. There are traces of yellow ochre on the front and back of the shield, brush strokes and small stop and start points can be seen under magnification. The outer border of the shield has a green band with a second black band and a yellow ochre band as well. There are several strips of old green and white striped trade clothe tied onto the front at the center as a drop. Medicine shields are very scarce and this one is in good condition with expected wear from use. There are several sets of small pierced holes on the front of the shield that held old Golden Eagle feathers at one time, that were removed many years ago to comply with the Federal Birds of Prey laws. Medicine shields were not only carried into battle but also had a special art, pictorial scenes, symbols, or embellishments that mean something of significance to the owner. Examples of similar American Indian medicine shields and their rarity, significance is documented in the 2002 book “Indian Guns, Spears and Shields of the American Frontier” by John Baldwin and a shield attributed to the Comanche with similar art features I pictured on page 2 and is included in the photo gallery for comparison. The shield measures 19 inches across.