Scalp Trophy
Materials
The shield features a hand carved and bent wood frame with a stretched rawhide top having a rich deep polychrome pigment mineral painted design in red. The center of the shield shows a scalp braid which is an original very old Buffalo Hair drop having the round scalp like attachment and rich yellow to brown color being pigment mineral dyed. The rawhide stretched top is adhered to the wood frame with rawhide sewn straps and has an early trade canvas handle. The reverse of the shield has a rich dark green coloring with the wood frame being dark red, both pigment mineral polychrome painted.
Description
Circa 1600’s – 1800’s made by most Native American tribes across the United States. A Native American warrior would keep the scalp as a trophy of war, then fabricate a small shield with decorations from his dreams.
This rare example of a Scalp-lock is believed to represent warriors’ souls’ connection with the spirits of the heavens.
They were used to dance and celebrate after winning battles over land, horses, women and revenge.
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