Lot 123

Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial Drum c. 1900 RARE

Estimate: $6,000 - $8,000

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 exceptional authentic and historic drum made by Thomas American Horse, Jack Red Cloud, Black Elk and other Sioux Native American Indians at the Pine Ridge Sioux Indian Reservation in South Dakota and used in a special memorial service on December 29, 1900, the 10th anniversary of the Wounded Knee Massacre. The piece was made in remembrance and hone of those killed in the Wounded Knee Massacre attach by the U.S. Cavalry 7th regiment on December 29th 1890. The piece shows a large wetted and stretched rawhide parfleche drum that is double sided and has old faded polychrome mineral pigment painted symbols and Wounded Knee information on each side. The drum is crafted of parfleched Great American Bison Buffalo hide over a bent wood plank frame and shows the original sinew carrying strap still intact. The front side of the drum has old faded brown paint that says: December 29, 1890-December 29, 1900 / Ten Years of Sorrow / Wounded Knee Creek Remembered / Holy Rosary Mission / Reverend Henry Kimball Warren. / Fr. John Lutz / Brother Henry Billing / Thomas American Horse / Jack Red Cloud / Blue Hawk / Nicholas Black Elk”. Below the names it says "Love, Peace and Forgiveness for all peoples of the world". There is a blue painted border around the front side of the drum and a center pound spot that is painted green. The reverse side is marked, "Mothers, Fathers, Sons and Daughters" and has the names of nearly all the 250 or so Sioux Indians who were killed in the massacre in faded brown paint. The piece was reportedly used at additional Sioux dances and pow wows after the memorial and was later given to Dr. Charles Eastman at Pine Ridge by Thomas American Horse. Eastman later donated the drum to Father Joseph Ward’s Yankton Indian College Museum in Yankton, South Dakota where it was on display for many decades until the college closed down in 1984 and the entire museum collection was sold off in 1987. Yankton Indian College, founded by Reverend Ward, was the first Native American Indian College in the United States. Reverend Joseph Ward was a noted early Sioux historian and collector. The Museum Collection included the Ghost Dance Shield sold by our company in our 6/3/2017 sale for $7,749, the Jack Red Cloud War Club sold at our 4/7/2018 sale for $7,380 and the Sioux Ghost Dance War Shield from Holy Bear which sold in our 8/25/2018 sale for $5,781 (all shown with premium). The drum measures overall 23 ½ inches across by 5 inches thick.

Condition

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.