Lot 14

George Catlin 1796-1872 Wi-Jun-Jon Pigeon Egghead

Estimate: $3,000 - $5,000

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $5
$50 $10
$100 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$25,000 $2,500
$100,000 $5,000
Featured in this lot is this hand colored etching of Wi-Jun-Jon or Pigeon Egghead from artist George Catlin born 1796 died 1872, The information and plate number is covered up by the matte border. The artwork is a before and after portrait of Wi-Jun-Jon, an Assiniboine warrior, when he was invited by President Andrew Jackson to Washington to meet with him and tour the city in 1831. The piece depicts the inevitable change in countenance he went through as he returned to his tribe. George Catlin was an American adventurer, lawyer, painter, author, and traveler, who specialized in portraits of Native Americans in the Old West. Traveling to the American West five times during the 1830s, Catlin wrote about and painted portraits that depicted the life of the Plains Indians. The frame is a professionally crafted heavy hard wood and veneer frame with a reddish brown coloration and a light brown inner border. The condition of this framed etching is good with no obvious signs of damage to the artwork, the frame shows some chipping to the rear of the top veneer but otherwise in good overall condition. The measurements of this framed etching are 28" x 22 3/4" and the visible art measures 16 1/2" x 11 1/2". Provenance: From the renowned Sundog Fine Art Bozeman, Montana collection and collected by Bruce VanLandingham. Bruce VanLandingham was a pillar in the American Indian collecting community and a respected expert. Along with being an avid collector, Bruce also was the sole owner of Sundog Fine Art Gallery in Bozeman, which was both part museum and gallery. Identification#: E1103.