My Hubby began his Cigar Store Indian collection when we visited Montana and Wyoming a few years ago.  It was the Road Trip of a lifetime…  an amazing vacation that we spent touring beautiful Western towns, searching for bears in Yellowstone Park, and enjoying a cozy cabin in Ennis, Montana.

{Photo from unknown source}

The entire vacation we searched for the perfect Cigar Store Indian.  On our drive home, we went through Jackson, Wyoming to visit a store called the Indian Trader.  It was there that we purchased our first Cigar Store Indian. 

{Click on image ABOVE to purchase online at Alltribes.com}

For those of you not familiar with the history of Cigar Store Indians, here is the short course:  Native Americans first introduced Europeans to tobacco during the explorer’s first expeditions to America.  These early explorers returned to their home countries with Tobacco seeds -it wasn’t long before tobacco became a valuable commodity in global trade.  In fact, tobacco was America’s contribution to world culture as the first agricultural crop to be exported from the United States.    

{Click on image ABOVE to purchase
online at The Paulingston Co.}

The origin of the wooden Indian dates back to England in 1617, when small wooden figures called “Virginie Men” were placed on counter-tops to represent tobacco companies. These “Virginians” (the local English renditions of Indians) were depicted as black men wearing headdresses and kilts made of tobacco leaves. 

{Click on image ABOVE to purchase
online at CabinandLodge.com}

In the United States Cigar Store Indians were used outside Tobacco shops in order to capture the attention of the people walking by, informing them that tobacco was sold inside.  Visual images were necessary for merchants due to a high illiteracy rate - it is said that the average cigar smoker in America in the late 1800s couldn’t read the words “Tobacconist Shop”.  Cigar Store Indians are a prime example of early marketing and advertising efforts.

{Click on image ABOVE to purchase
online at NativeNation.com}

Over time Cigar Store Indians have come to be used more for decorative purposes, and less and less to advertise the sell of tobacco.  This is due to many current political factors including tobacco’s reputation as an “evil weed”, as well as the Cigar Store Indian being an unwanted stereotype of the Native American community.

{Click on image ABOVE to purchase
online at Anteks Home Furnishings}

Artists, collectors and western designers continue to re-create the Cigar Store Indian in many forms - carved wood, bronze statues, and marble busts.  The original statues are coveted by collectors while reproductions are produced in mass for the frugal decorator.

 
{Click on image ABOVE to purchase
online at CigarStoreIndianStatue.com}

However they fit into your decor or collection, these statues are an important part of the history of advertising and Native American acculturation in America.  The Cigar Store Indian’s contribution to American folk sculpture ensure that they are an excellent investment.

{Click on image ABOVE to purchase online at BarsCigarsandBrew.com}

** For even more information regarding the fascinating history behind Cigar Store Indians please visit cigarstoreindianstatue.com. 
Much of the information above was found there.  
Thank you Chie!!

** Another excellent article can be found
on the Cigar Aficianado website HERE.

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Posted on Thursday, July 31st, 2008 at 12:31 am under Accessories, Love It!!.
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