"Young Mahaskah, An Ioway Chief" by Charles Bird King

"Young Mahaskah, An Ioway Chief" by Charles Bird King

C.1865-1870

Hand-Painted Lithograph

Capturing a youthful and decorated visage of tribal prominence, this nineteenth-century colored lithograph titled "Young Mahaskah, An Ioway Chief" dates to the period between 1865 and 1870. The half-length portrait showcases Young Mahaskah leaning thoughtfully forward upon a pipe tomahawk held in his right hand. Bright red ceremonial paint spans across his eyes and cheeks, contrasting with his dark hair and a cluster of delicate ornaments lining the rim of his ears. Around his neck hangs an impressive collar of grizzly bear claws accompanied by a large circular silver medallion suspended over his chest. His arms are adorned with a complex assortment of trade jewelry, including wide metallic bands around his upper arms festooned with red ribbons, a gemstone-encrusted bracelet on his lower right arm, and two intricately designed armlets resting on his left forearm. Wrapped loosely around his torso is a soft green blanket, set cleanly against a plain background above printed uppercase title typography reading "Young Mahaskah, An Ioway Chief."

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