IDENTIFIED ORIGINAL CABINET CARD OF CHIEF BIG BOW
– WELL KNOWN KIOWA LEADER & IMPORTANT SOUTHERN PLAINS
PERSONALITY: A very nice original identified
cabinet card depicting Kiowa Chief Big Bow seated on a
dead buffalo. He is armed with a pistol tucked into to
his waist under the front of his brass tacked leather
belt, and is further adorned with a bone breast plate
and otter fur wrapped braids. Big Bow is flanked by two
other Kiowa warriors, both wearing native clothing, to
include typical Kiowa style leather fringed leggings.
Big Bow was reportedly the most aggressive leader of the
Kiowa, reputed to have killed more Caucasians than any
other Kiowa warrior, as well as being known for his
battles against the Navajos and Utes. He was eventually
convinced by other Kiowas to except amnesty from the
U.S. government, settled in the Indian Territory, and
later worked for the Army as a scout. He died in 1900.
This cabinet
card measures 6 ½ " high and 4 ¼ " wide. The condition
is quite good with no scuffing to the image surface and
the only wear evident being a tiny pin hole at the top
of the card along the border where it was apparently
once attached to a wall. I have seen other printings of
this same image, all bearing the same imprint
of “Continental Stereographic Co., New York”
along the front bottom of the card, and signed in ink on
reverse “K. Shawler",
and apparently all of these printings of this image were
part of a promotional campaign where this image was
given to prospective customers.
While the image appears
light, all of the printings of this image that I have
seen share this same light image and it may be that the
original photograph had this light contrast. The
details are still very legible and the image is quite
attractive.
This is a very
nice, identified cabinet card image of a well known
Kiowa leader, who was very prominent in the history of
the final years of the free ranging tribes of the
Southern Plains. (C-162) $450
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