Pair of Indigenous Portraits: Seated Chief and Profile Elder
Decorative art, likely commercially produced souvenir tondos or tray inserts • Anonymous commercial illustrator; possibly after 19th-century ethnographic photographs or paintings by artists like George Catlin or Karl Bodmer
Style & Movement
Mid-century Americana / Illustration with Western Revival influences
Medium & Technique
Lithographic print or transfer on metal or composite panel, finished with a textured protective varnish or clear coat
Creation Period
Mid-20th Century (circa 1940-1960)
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 10-12 inches in diameter; tondo (circular) format set within shallow scalloped-edge metal frames
Subject Description
Two circular portraits of Native American men. One shows a seated figure in frontal view wearing a bone breastplate and braids; the other shows an elder in profile wearing a headscarf, a single feather, and a large hoop earring. The backgrounds feature stylized landscapes with tipis and mountains.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good. There is visible wear to the gilded edges and some surface dulling consistent with household use or display.
Estimated Market Value
USD $40 - $100 for the pair
Auction Estimate
USD $30 - $60
Provenance History
Unknown; likely mass-produced decorative items sold through mid-century department stores or curio shops in the Western United States.
Art Historical Significance
Representational of the mid-20th-century American fascination with 'The Old West.' These items are less fine art and more sociocultural artifacts illustrating how Indigenous identity was commercialized for home decor during this era.
Notable Features
Scalloped gilt-painted metal rims and highly detailed linear rendering of traditional regalia, indicative of commercial printing techniques from the 1940s-50s.
Condition Issues
Minor surface scratches, oxidation on the metallic rims, and likely minor fading due to UV exposure over several decades.
Conservation Recommendations
Dust with a soft, dry microfiber cloth. Avoid chemical cleaners or moisture, as the transfer print may peel or bubble. Maintain in a temperature-controlled environment.