Watercolor of a Native American Shield [SOLD]

Native Americans valued shields as means of protection. There were two types of shields. One type was used as a defensive tool, to protect against arrows in battle. It was made of thick hide and decorated with symbols of protection that were personal to the owner.

The other type of shield was a medicine shield, made to protect the owner spiritually. It also would be decorated with symbols meaningful to the owner.

This painting is most probably of a warrior shield because of the addition of other symbols of battle. The lance, bow and arrows, and war club are all battle weapons.

We have been unable to find any information about the artist, Billey Kochee. The painting is unframed and signed in lower right.  It is not dated.

Condition: original condition

Recommended Reading: The Sweet Grass Lives On: Fifty Contemporary North American Indian Artists, by Jamake Highwater.  Billey Kochee is not included as an artist in this book.  This book is currently not available from Adobe Gallery.

Provenance: from the estate of a former client from New York.  We normally do not accept paintings for whom we know nothing about the artist, however, we agreed to accept this one due to the great subject matter of this painting.