The lot features a unique polychrome painted shield attributed to the Ghost Dance Movement by the Sioux Native American Indians. The piece is comprised of Indian brain-tanned buckskin hide wetted and stretched over a wooden hoop showing bright pigment mineral paints. An original braided hide arm strap is still attached and there are stains on the revers side of the shield. Provenance: The shield is from the Cyrus Eaton collection out of London, England. Eaton was said to have purchased the shield from well-known and respected dealer Forrest Fenn in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Fenn stated that he acquired the piece from the Hunkpapa Sioux at the Standing Rock Indian Reservation Agency in North Dakota. It was in Fenn’s personal collection hanging on his office wall until it was sold to Eaton in the early 1990’s. The piece comes with no documentation but has a rich owner heritage. The shield has painted symbols in yellow ochre, natural pigment mineral dyes and old powder paints in colors of green, red and blue featuring a large half-moon, two waterbirds and four-point morning stars. There are three dangle drops attached that are comprised of hide lacing, tarnished brass beads, hand-rolled tin jingle dangle cones and frilly hide fringe. The shield has amazing art and historic appeal, possibly being one of the most attractive examples we have offered and possibly touched up or preserved over its long owner history. Overall nice minimal pain loss with some of the yellow ocher flaking as to be expected. While there are a small handful of Lakota Sioux and Arapaho Ghost Dance examples that exist in private and museum collections this is the only known example with history being attributed to the Hunkpapa Sioux (The Sitting Bull Band) from North Dakota. Provenance: Ex- Forrest Fenn Collection Santa Fe New Mexico, Hunkpapa Sioux Standing Rock Indian Reservation Collection, Cyrus Eaton London England Collection. The shield measures 20 inches across.