Indian Girl with Drum (Pin-up Calendar Illustration)
Commercial Print / Calendar Lithograph on paper or cardstock • Attributed to the studio and style of Edward Runci or similar mid-century pin-up illustrators of the era
Style & Movement
American Pin-up Art / Mid-Century Illustration Art
Medium & Technique
Color lithography/offset printing based on an original oil painting
Creation Period
Circa 1936-1937
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 12 x 24 inches; Vertical Portrait Rectangular format
Subject Description
A romanticized, highly stylized depiction of a Native American woman in a long red feather headdress and beaded bikini, holding a drum and mallet aloft. Set against a dramatic mountain and lake backdrop with tepees visible in the distance. The image blends Western pin-up tropes with romanticized 'noble savage' iconography common in 20th-century advertising.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good (considering age); appears to be framed and well-preserved for a paper ephemeral item.
Estimated Market Value
$250 - $600 USD (depending on scale and specific lithograph quality)
Auction Estimate
$300 - $500 USD
Provenance History
Likely a promotional mass-market giveaway distributed by a business for the year 1937. No specific stamps are visible in this image.
Art Historical Significance
A representative example of the 'Golden Age of American Illustration.' This work reflects the 1930s fascination with exoticized archetypes and the burgeoning popularity of pin-up girls as promotional tools in corporate Americana.
Notable Features
Features a preserved 'January 1937' calendar pad, which significantly increases the value for collectors of ephemera compared to a standalone print. Includes an Art Deco influenced stepped-corner frame.
Condition Issues
Possible light foxing or yellowing of the paper substrate; visible surface micro-creasing common with calendar stock of this age.
Conservation Recommendations
Ensure the use of UV-filtering glass and acid-free mounting to prevent further paper degradation and color fading from light exposure.