Cigar-store Indians -- Pictorial works; Indians of North America -- Statues
MISS Wurach, 733 West Pratt street, Baltimore, states that her father
started in business 51 years ago and that she and her brother now
continue to keep the store, her father being dead. The figure in front
is the second one used in 51 years. The age of the present figure is not
known.
Mr. Bringman’s Indian figure, on West Baltimore street, is very old and
very impressive in appearance, being of unusually large size and
displaying great muscular development. It has required much repairing
about the feet and on one thigh.
Very interesting is the story of F. Dreves’ figure, on West Fayette
street, above Park avenue, as told by Mr. Dreves.
The late Mr. Dreves, Sr., at one time dealt in Indian figures.
Sailing vessels that for a long time plied up and down the coast of
America and across the Atlantic carrying merchandise and passengers
would become unfit for further use at sea and were then dismantled.
Often the masts of these old sailing vessels would be trailed in the
water and towed into port. These portions of masts would, in the water,
become hardened, or even petrified. They were of large size and
furnished excellent material for wood carving of all kinds.
About 35 years ago the late Mr. Dreves obtained two lengths of such
masts and wished to have two Indian figures carved from them.
He found a German sculptor from Munich who had carved figures now to be
seen adorning the Capitol at Washington.
The German sculptor had never seen an Indian, but when shown pictures of
the figures he was to carve exclaimed: “O yes, that’s the American,”
meaning that the Indian was the only native American.
Each Indian completed cost $115 in the raw wood.
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[Illustration:
ALL HIGH ROLLERS]
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XIII
THE Indians carved by the German sculptor are represented with catamount
hide for covering. A quiver of arrows is fastened over the left
shoulder. In the right hand is a bow and the left hand holds a bunch of
tobacco leaves.
Evidence of the skill and training of the now departed German sculptor
may be seen in the figure. Every muscle visible on the human form is
executed in its exact relation.
The little depression about the kneepan, the lines of the shinbone and
the condyles of the elbow joint are perfect.
The brother of Mr. Dreves’ Indian was purchased by Mr. Oppelt and may
now be seen in front of his store on Park avenue.
This Indian was sold to the present Mr. Oppelt’s father 35 years ago for
about the price of carving and material as given above.
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XIV
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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