The lot features a painted hide shield cover depicting a bird on a red ground with waved lines radiating inspired by the historic shields from He Nupa Wanica / Joseph No Two Horns (1852-1942). Joseph No Two Horns (He Nupa Wanica, 1852-1942) was a prolific artist and skilled warrior, having fought in around 40 battles, including the Battle of the Little Bighorn. No Two Horns was a Hunkpapa Lakota / Teton Sioux warrior well-known for his iconic Thunderbird shield’s that he created throughout his entire life. Examples of No Two Horns' painted hide shields can be found in the collections of the Denver Art Museum (1932.237); the Detroit Institute of the Arts (2006.106); and the Charles and Valerie Diker Collection (691), a promised gift to the Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York City (L.2018.35.69). This example exhibits Indian tanned hide wetted and stretched over a wood stick hoop. The back is held together with Indian hide lacing and ties with a hide strap. The front of the shield is painted with colors of red, brown, and blue / green. The shield painting depicts a Thunderbird / Thunder Bird on a red ground with waved lines radiating from the tops of its wings with a solid blue / green rectangle at the top. The top has a row of Turkey feathers and four large Turkey feathers at the bottom, wrapped in hide and sinew with hide fringes. The shield was handmade and was inspired by the iconic Joseph No Two Horns example, likely by a Northern Plains artist in the 20th century. Measures 28-inches by 20-inches. "In the relatively short period of the horse culture of the Plains Indian tribes, one of the most important objects a nomadic warrior might carry into battle was his shield... while they could deflect arrows or glancing blows, it was the vision-inspired paintings on the shield or hide covers that the owners believed offered them the greatest protection". Wooley and Horse Capture, "Joseph No Two Horns / He Nupa Wanica", American Indian Art Magazine, Summer 1993, Goldfein, Roanne P., Vol 18, Number 3, p. 32-43 (Bonhams; Ingmars Lindbergs).