The lot featured in this lot is an exceptional Lakota Sioux Plains Indian polychrome painted and beaded model tipi cover dating to the circa 1890-1920’s. This reservation era miniature pictorial tepee cover shows a soft Indian tanned hide construction with polychrome mineral ocher pigment painted pictorial battle scene showing six Sioux Native American Indian figures on horseback. Four of the figures show a long eagle feather headdress and one shows a roach headdress with single feather. Each corner of the tepee model cover shows the picture of a tepee. At the top of the tipi shows eight yellow and blue ocher painted circles holding two rolled tin jingle cones and drops of red shroud trade clothe along with eight red and blue ocher painted circles each having the same pair of trade fabric adorned jingle cone sets. At the center of the hide shows four period correct glass trade seed beaded round pinwheel sections of chalk white, cobalt, semi-transparent translucent medium green and red white hearts with a pair of rolled jingle cones and red trade clothe beneath each. At the top of the hide also shows a cross beaded of cobalt, red white hearts, and greasy yellow with jingle cones. The hide has been professionally museum backed to a fabric covered board for display and preservation purposes. Provenance: The piece was found to be an authentic Plains Indian example by the experts at Cowan’s Auctions and was sold in their American Indian and Wester Art sale in April 2016 to one of the largest American Indian collectors in Billings, Montana. The hide has been wonderfully preserved and shows fine condition for its early age with the beadwork showing little to no loss and the paint having a bright finish, which displays very well. Polychrome Painted tipi covers are highly collectible with such examples selling at auction for $24,000 at the Skinner 2/11/2013 sale, $5,036 at Skinners 9/26/2009 sale, and this example which sold for $2,280 in Cowan’s 4/8/2016 sale. Measures overall 28”H x 48”W. For a complete representation of condition and for additional images please call 800-686-4216. It is the buyer’s responsibility to view each image and preview the item to determine condition.