Lot 94

Kiowa Pictorial Buffalo Painted Large Hide 19th C.

Estimate: $25,000 - $35,000

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
This is an exceptionally rare piece showing a horse or mule Indian tanned hide being polychrome painted from the Kiowa Southern Plains Native American Indians of the 1800’s. The piece shows a wonderful Indian tanned hide with hair on the reverse being tanned from either a horse or mule showing a wonderful mineral pigment polychrome painted finish showing a large sunburst pinwheel at the center surrounded by seventeen black running Great American Bison Buffalo and further adorned with inward pointing bursting symbols at each corner. The pinwheel and corners show a rich dark brown, black, red and yellow mineral pigment coloring. The hide has a supple finish with slight cracking and ripping from honest authentic age and use. Provenance: The piece is from the collection of Mr. Williamson of Texas which held such amazing American Indian pieces as the Baldwin Ball Head War Club and “S” Ball Head War club (both 19th Century) sold in our previous sales and have been consigned directly from the Williamson Estate. The piece was purchased in Scottsdale, Arizona from an elderly man in his 80’s who bought the piece directly from the Kiowa Family in the 1950’s who used the piece since the circa 1880-1890’s. The hide has an exceptional authentic patina from honest age and is a truly fine work of American Indian art dating to the third quarter of the 19th Century. A few aspects of this piece are truly phenomenal: first the use of three or more mineral pigment colors; second the large full size; third the use of a horse or mule hide; fourth the presence of both the pinwheel sunburst and Buffalo effigy figures or hunt scene without American Indians present. This is truly a historic and important piece that has been well cared for in owned by only two collectors and the original family. Similar painted hides of a large size such as this have sold at auction such as the example brought to sale by our company in our November 2018 sale valued at $150,000 to $250,000; the Sioux painted hide from the Sotheby’s May 2012 sale which sold for $110,500; the Greenough painted hide from the Sotheby’s December 2013 sale which sold for $118,750. The current example is extremely similar to the last three examples in its original early age, large size and astounding painting. Measures overall 90"x80".
North American Auction Company is proud to announce the opening of our new in-house, full-service shipping department. We have listened to you the customer and will now be handling all outgoing packages in our new shipping department. We are confident this new offering will allow for a smooth transition from auction block to your front step. We have partnered with preferred carriers to ensure a safe, efficient delivery that works best with your schedule. Please allow 14-21 days after complete invoice payment is made to package and ship your purchase. After you are notified of your winning bids from our company and your item invoice is paid in full our new shipping department will contact you. Make sure when signing up with our company that your preferred shipping information is up to date as this information will be used to estimate shipping cost. Once the items have been packaged our team will contact you for shipping payment. Shipping invoices and payment will be completely separately than the items invoice. Please notify the shipping department with any alternate request or instructions at mark@northamericanauctioncompany.com or 800-686-4216 ext. 3. For a shipping quote please contact the same information above. PLEASE NOTE a shipping quote price can fluctuate in price. Auction company is not responsible for actual shipping cost being higher than quoted shipping cost. Thank you for trusting North American Auction Co. with your bids and shipping. As our shipping department is brand new please understand that delays can be expected.