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Northern Plains Crane Shield
(#FCSHIE76)
This Northern Plains shield, measuring 19 inches in diameter, is of
unique construction. While the shield proper is a thin,
sheet-iron disk, the back is rawhide, and the two pieces are fastened
together with four copper rivets. The rawhide backing
added to the strength of the shield and also provided a foundation to
which arm loops and a carrying strap were attached.
The face of the shield is thin buckskin, perhaps antelope. The rainbow
across the top evokes a prayer to change the
enemies' missiles and render them harmless. The feathers probably refer
to the shield's figurative representation of
the sun by symbolizing its rays. The Sand hill crane head attached to
the center is likely a personal protector of the owner.
The crane, a bird that is heard long before it can be seen, often flies
at night, traveling with unerring confidence to its destination. The
tinkling dog bell reinforces this interpretation since it would
represent the actual voice of the majestic
bird's spirit. Although for Indians on the Missouri the use of iron for
shields was suggested as long ago as the
beginning of the nineteenth century, this is the first such shield I
have seen. Sioux winter counts refer to warriors
using iron shields or wearing iron helmets. One of the great Pawnee
stories tells of a seemingly invincible Cheyenne
who would draw the Pawnees' fire, then chase them down one by one and
slay them. When he was finally killed by
a boy's lucky arrow shot into his eye socket, the Pawnees were amazed to
find that under his scalp shirt the
Cheyenne wore iron plate armor, arranged like overlapping fish scales,
riveted to a leather jerkin.
All is fair in war, and every man's personal medicine could use an edge.
Illustrated in
Spirits in the Art, by James A.
Hanson pg.19.
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