Portraits of Little Holy Flower, Hold His Hand, and Come in Camp, Three American Indian Child Performers at the ‘Red Man Spectacle,” Earl’s Court, 1909.
London: 1909. Silver gelatin prints measuring 5 ½ x 4 ½ inches. Editorial marks to verso, one marginal tear, else about fine with fine contrast, very good plus overall. Fine. Item #List1921
Western shows, particularly Buffalo Bill’s, which ran in Earls Court for several years, were highly influential in introducing the British public to American Indian culture, often in highly fictionalized form. After the Buffalo Bill show ceased performing in London, others followed, including the The Golden West and American (U.S.A.) industries exhibition of 1909. Offered here are three photographs of American Indian children from the exhibition, who were likely part of the show’s ‘Red Man Spectacle.” They are likely Oglala. The show featured a reenactment of an entirely fictitious event called the “Black Hawk Massacre in Colorado,” and some veterans of Cody’s shows including Red Shirt, Lone Bear and Painted Horse were among the performers. The three children pictured here are named Little Holy Flower, Hold His Hand and Come in Camp. A note to a verso says the pictures were taken concurrently with the Franco-British Exposition, which continued for several years in various iterations beginning in 1908. We find one variant image from this shoot, otherwise no record of these images, which may have been taken by the Brown Brothers firm or possibly ended up in their possession from another photographer.
Price: $875.00