Unknown

19th C Counter top Cigarstore Northern American Indian statue, Unknown artist

Unknown

Mangbetu People, DRC, Very Early Male Statue with Snake Vertebrae Belt and Necklace.

Lacquered wood figure representing the deity Ashinaga, Japan, early 20th century. Carved in wood and finished with a dark lacquer surface, highlighting the elongated limbs characteri...

Standing Fang Mabea Maternity of Museum quality, holding a pestle with both her hands. The mother's head is slightly turned to the left, while the child, which she carries on her bac...

An intriguing example of a fully articulated circus puppet marionette, in the form of a clown. This figure is fully articulated with iron strings support...

A 20th Century wood carved male figure, a 'Cigar Store Indian' with original polychrome decoration. A now controversial subject, but none the less charming rendition, of a native North American man originally probably used as an advertising figure. Wonderful quality of carving capturing the stance of the man looking out to the distance, hair flowing to his back and plait to the side, all the details of his costume, his native dress and hairpipe breastplate (suggesting he is possibly a Comanche) and chest ornament, apron, trousers, mocassins, shield and arrows. The original Polychrome decoration has weathered beautifully as has the wood itself to present a sculpture that would adorn any collection or interior. Because of the general illiteracy of the populace, early store owners used descriptive emblems or figures to advertise their shops' wares. American Indians and tobacco had always been associated because American Indians introduced tobacco to Europeans. As early as the 17th century, European tobacconists used figures of American Indians to advertise their shops. Because European carvers had never seen a Native American, these early cigar-store "Indians" looked more like Africans with feathered headdresses and other fanciful, exotic features. These carvings were called "Black Boys" or "Virginians" in the trade. Eventually, the European cigar-store figure...

Cigar or Tobacco Shop Trade Sign, Carving of an Indian Chief This charming and very rare piece, this is a fine example of an American favourite the Cigar Store Indian Counter Top Tra...

Large Carved Cigar Store Indian, Shop Trade Sign This is a very rare find, he is a full size American Indian, he is carved from one piece of wood ( a tree trunk, possibly pine ) The...

Carved Cigar Store Native American Indian, Shop Trade Sign This is a very rare find, he is an almost full size American Indian Chief, he is carved from one piece of wood ( a tree tr...