"Chittee-Yoholo, A Seminole Chief" by Charles Bird King

"Chittee-Yoholo, A Seminole Chief" by Charles Bird King

C.1865-1870

Hand-Painted Lithograph

Titled "Chittee-Yoholo, A Seminole Chief," this nineteenth-century colored lithograph from Rice, Rutter & Co. dates between 1865 and 1870 and highlights the sophisticated trade silver finery of a Southeastern leader. The half-length portrait captures Chittee-Yoholo facing directly forward with a composed, solemn expression. He wears an structured, light blue coat featuring a distinct double-tiered shoulder cape, accented by a dark cravat wrapped closely at his throat and a matching light blue belt with a circular silver buckle. Layered over his chest is an exceptional array of seven graduated, crescent-shaped silver gorgets, culminating in a large round medal. His head is wrapped in a bold red turban, which trails elegantly past his left shoulder and is crowned by a wide, polished metallic band. The detailed figure is isolated against a clean, off-white background, positioned neatly above the crisp, uppercase printed typography.

This composition belongs to a broader American historical record dating back to the federal treaty eras of the 1820s and 1830s, where Indigenous leaders and tribal delegates were visually documented during diplomatic missions to Washington, D.C.. Published in 1986 as part of a modern commemorative edition of the landmark book History of the Indian Tribes of North America by Thomas Loraine McKenney and James Hall, prints like this hold monumental historical importance because they serve as the primary surviving visual record of these pre-Civil War individuals. The original oil portrait archives, including those by Charles Bird King and the Western galleries of John Mix Stanley, were tragically destroyed in the catastrophic 1865 Smithsonian fire. As a result, these meticulously prepared volume reproductions stand as irreplaceable ethnographic artifacts, documenting traditional attire, customs, and political figures from a critical era of Native American history.

Dimensions: H 11”x 8 ½”W

Condition: In very good condition