Lot 1694
AN IMPORTANT ARCHIVE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AND ARTEFACTS FROM ARNOLD LUPSON 'EAGLE TAIL' OF THE SARCEE - AMERICAN INDIAN INTEREST
A collection of items comprising: Two ceremonial Eagle's claws, a pair of gauntlet gloves with bright needlework decoration of stylized flowers, and tasseled border, a pair of baby's shoes with bead work decoration, Sections of bead work including a small purse with geometric decoration and red crosses against a white ground, a neck tie with striped decoration and fringed end, a red, white and blue striped collar, a broad belt with flowers and decorative motifs against a blue ground and another similar length of bead work with a white ground, two 'peace' pipes, one with carved Native American head wearing a full headdress, the other with tapering bowl on a straight pipe with wound decoration and a pair of leather cuffs with allover worked decoration and applied stud borders.
Photographs and ephemera to include to include an album of photagraphs containing images of 'Eagle Tail Feathers' 1928, 'Duck Chief' 'Little Walker' 'Calf Child' 'Big Plume' 'Running Antelpoe' 'Yellow Lodge' 'Cat Face' and others (21 images), another album of images of Sarcee and others, rodeo riders, postcards and other related images, Two mounted images of the 'Lupson' store front, glass 6 1/2 x 8 1/2" negatives, a collection varied related images (approximately 65) and a collection of ephemera, letters and other items.
A copy of 'White Eagle Tail Arnold Lupson and 30 Years among the Sarcee, Blackfoot and Stoney Indians of the North American Plains' by Taylor and Dempsey. A copy of 'River deep Mountain High' Edited by Avery.
Provenance: The family of Arnold Lupson.
See Illustrations.
Arnold Lupson's life (1894-1951) was an extraordinary one, born in London 1894 he went on to be accepted by the Sarcee Indians, to marry Maggie the widow of Sarcee Chief Big Belly and become known as 'Eagle Tail'. Born to a family who lived above the tobacconist business they ran in London this could hardly have seemed possible. Apparently as a young photojournalist Lupson was sent by his editor, Lord Beaverbrook, to photograph a group of Native Americans visiting England, he was entranced and decided to visit Canada, much to his families surprise (and apparent disapproval) he never came home. Finding a life working with leather as a saddle maker and becoming friends with Chief Joe Big Plume he became firm friends with many of the Sarcee. Lupson clearly enjoyed the life on the Sarcee reservation in Calgary, although he could not live there permanently he became accepted as a regular visitor. He eventually married and raised Maggie's daughter 'Margaret 'One Spot' as his own and built a timber house for them on the reservation.
This unique collection tells a story of 'Eagle Tail' and his adoptive people during the early years of the twentieth century. The unique access that he had to the people and way of life make this a fascinating collection. The collection also includes some wonderful items such as a collar and tie made perhaps as something of a joke for the most unusual member of their community.
The work that accompany this lot 'White Eagle Tail' tells the story in fascinating detail.
