Beacon Child or Dolls Indian Camp Blanket, Very Rare

A late classic small (child's) blanket.

An early blanket.

This is a very rare and important original image of early Western Americana, or more specifically, "Californiana". Mid 19th century and researched to have been engraved in 1856, it captures, in incredible detail, a group of twelve Native American Indians with a baby in a papoose, gathered together in front of their hanging tools, baskets, implements and weaponry behind them on a "tent like" backdrop. There are men, women, young, and elderly. It is a signed wood cut engraving applied in ink by well known wood cut engraver of the mid 19th century, William J. Peirce (active 1851-1879). It is in excellent all original condition with no additions, no restoration of any kind and it is housed in it's original 1 1/2" double beveled wooden birds eye maple veneered frame with a gilt 1/2" filet interior border. "A Group Of California Indians" is engraved at the base along with a non-descript notation "For description see page 381" which appears in the margin, in addition to an illegible signature. Both these line items are also noted by the New York Public Library, where a digital example exists from the esteemed collection of "The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division Picture Collection", which was assembled in 1986 and recently digitalized. The Library of Congress also memorializes this image and theirs is similarly a digital image. My example came out of the Grant Smith Collection of "Californiana", as is noted on the back of the framed engraving. He was located at Main Street in Bolinas, California (see images on the rear for provenance). Research reveals that he was a direct descendant of the coastal Miwok people who built a settlement in the Bolinas lagoon area. The engraving is referenced in both the New York Library and The Library of Congress as "A Group of California Indians". It is one of the earlier images you will find, along with McKenny and Hall lithographed mages of Native American Indians; and because of it's subject matter and extreme rarity, "A Group Of California Indians" commands attention and interest from the Western art collectors' arena. California became a state on September 9, 1850 making this one of the earliest known images (Circa 1856) of "Californiana" and California Native American...

A wonderfully hand-painted and decorated Native American Hopi Kachina Katsina doll. We believe this was a child's cradle first Kachina doll. It is hand carved from light wood (likel...

A nicely made, handwoven Native American Navajo green, beige and brown rug/blanket Would be a nice addition to your Native American collection or make for an eye-catching accent pie...

A wonderful, highly engaging, intricately hand woven antique Native North American Indian Navajo tribe wool rug/blanket featuring a geometric X-pattern (the Navajo tribe is famed for...

A wonderful, highly engaging, intricately hand woven antique Indigenous Native North American Indian Southwestern Navajo tribe wool rug/blanket featuring a geometric pattern (the Nav...

A wonderfully hand-painted and decorated Native American Hopi Kachina Katsina doll. It is hand carved from light wood (likely cottonwood). Kachina figures are believed to act as me...

Titled "Between Places" Very Large American Indian Original Textile Piece by Artist Dana Boussard Mixed media on fabric 62 x 46 in

Impressive Seminole doll collection of 226 dolls. A three-generation collection. Ex. Bonhams. Ranging in sizes from 2" to 22". Can never be put together again. Would bring 2x if sold...