Wooden Indian - Caddo, OK
Posted by: hamquilter
N 34° 07.541 W 096° 15.620
14S E 752665 N 3779482
This carving stands in front of the Caddo Indian Territory Museum in downtown Caddo.
Waymark Code: WMYTE2
Location: Oklahoma, United States
Date Posted: 07/22/2018
Views: 2
This carving is a tree trunk which stands about 9 ft. high. Beneath the standing Indian is a howling wolf. The Indian brave has a thigh-length piece of clothing, and has his arms crossed in front of him. What looks like hair might be a representation of a feathered head-dress. On top of his head is the body and wings of a bird.
"Cigar store Indian" carvings were originally used as an advertising symbol for tobacco stores. Today they are seen as folk art and collectibles. To many Native Americans, this symbolic Indian perpetuates a negative stereotype and is not appreciated. As this one stands in front of an historical museum, it is an example of early artwork.