PLAINS INDIAN SHIELDS & SHIELD COVERS
The Native American Shield | Plains Indian War Shield | Medicine Shield | Dance Shield
Plains Indian | Native American shields used in battle were decorated with anything that would add power to the wearer. A war shield was very important in that it would sometimes be the first thing an enemy would see and it needed to be very powerful to frighten off anyone that would do harm. Also, a cover or multiple covers over the hard shield would stop the enemy seeing his power and medicine he didn’t want them to see.
THE PLAINS INDIAN | NATIVE AMERICAN SHIELD
There were a few different types of shields used by the Plains Indian. Among them, a hard shield made from thick rawhide and then covered with a soft skin shield cover(or covers). A second type of shield made of rawhide but supported with a handmade wooden hoop, usually of willow. Sometimes the hoop was removed. Shields were on average around 17 inches, but could be as small as 12 inches. Some were also larger and were 20 inches plus. Depending on the shield, our shields average around 19 to 20 inches.
War Shield | Medicine Shield | Dance Shield
Museum replica of a Crow war shield ca. 1860. The image on the shield is probably a White Mountain Lion beneath a green curved lined line which signifies a magnificent hunter. Made for a client in Colorado.
This is our personal shield and a tribute to our buffalo. Painted years ago by our dear friend Dow Haddaway - Shawnee, it is based on a painting by James Bama. I made the shield and decorated it featuring our buffalo’s toes and dew claws, along with legging hair | fur. Shield is also edged with brain tanned buffalo, adorned with Eagle feathers, buckskin strap and deer leg sinew.
Plains Indian thick rawhide shield featuring a bear - painted with clay paints, beads,
Eagle fluff, hide glue, buckskin straps, wool trade cloth, etc.
Based on Chief Little Rock’s shield (Cheyenne) ca. 1860
Made for Fort Sill Museum, Oklahoma
Soft shield cover over a hard shield, brass bells, various feathers, earth clay paints, corn husks. Little Rock in Cheyenne, recorded by the Smithsonian as Hō-hăn-ĭ-no-o′) (ca. 1805-1868)
Made for a client in France.
Museum replica of a Blackfeet Shield from the American Museum of Natural History. Made for customers in New Zealand & Colorado. Red & blue wool cloth, feathers, earth pigment paints, buckskin strap, etc.
Hard shield based on an original Plains shield that can be seen at the Buffalo Bill - Center of the West Museum, Wyoming. Made for a client in Scotland. Red wool trade cloth, blue cotton calico and feathers, buckskin strap, earth pigment paints, etc.
Soft cover and a hard rawhide shield
Sioux War Shield with soft cover featuring either human | horse hair, otter. Painted with earth pigment paints. Based on a museum example, but slightly changed for client by adding coyote and otter fur
Replica Apache Shield based on a shield at the Heard Museum. Made for a client in France.
Lakota Sioux Thunderbird war shield | dance shield (based on a museum example)
Rain in the Face Shield - Soft shield cover and hard shield. Hard shield is based on a Hidatsa museum shield featuring a bear. Bison fur, claws, buckskin strap, feathers, feather fluffs, medicine bundles, clay pigment paints, Made for a client in California.
Back of a shield with medicine bundle and deer skin straps
Museum replica Crow Indian War Shield ca. 1870 from Buffalo Bill Centre of the West, Wyoming.. Made for a client in Utah
Close up of the rawhide cut out bear painted dark blue with clay earth pigment paints. The shield also features various feathers, feather bundle, trade cloth, bells, buckskin strap, etc.
Inspired by Rain in the Face's (Lakota Sioux) shield cover
We have changed the Thunderbird / Eagle as per the clients request & added a few items that the client wanted.
Rain in the Face (Ité Omáǧažu in Lakota Sioux) with his shield
c. 1835 – September 15, 1905
Four Directions shield on wooden hoop - ca. 1873
buffalo rump / hump shield
Inspired by a Crow shield - circa mid 19th century (with human hair locks) - New Orleans Museum, Louisiana. wooden hoop
This shield ca. 1840 Is thought to be Crow (formerly in the old War Department Collection) and now housed in the Smithsonian Institute.
Medicine Shield made with personal medicine, human hair, willow hoop, red and blue wool cloth, feathers, clay pigment paints, buckskin strap, rawhide etc.