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Mandan Flag Lance |
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Mandan Flag Lance While most lances were used primarily as a weapon, the flag lance was a multi-purpose utility item as well. This lance was used to signal movement for tribal members along with directing war parties strategically. George Catlin, the famous western artist of the 19th century, depicted such lances in many of his 1832 to 1834 paintings. To the Plains Indians two items, obtained by plunder from ravaged wagon trains, the iron wagon wheel rims and hoops from water barrels were especially prized. The former ( wagon wheel rims) were forged into spear points and the latter into arrow heads. The large 16 inch point on this lance is likewise hand forged from an 1800's wagon wheel rim. The rim was recovered by Larry from a wrecked wagon found not far from Bents Old Fort in S.E. Colorado, next to the Santa Fe Trail. The point is attached with a thick rawhide thong, to the fire hardened Aspen wood shaft which is over five and a half feet long. As previously mentioned, when feathers were sewn to trade cloth and attached to the staff, the lance became a signal flag. Most flags contained only one color of trade cloth. However, Larry constructed this flag with a rare two color combination . The flag itself is over 5 feet in length with 4 eight inch red trade cloth rectangles alternating with 3 eight inch white rectangles. Through much research, Larry found that the white originated from Hudson Bay blanket traded from the Hudson Bay company originally located in Minnesota. The white in this flag is also Hudson Bay blanket from the 1800's. 36 of Bob Wells' Golden Eagle feathers wrapped in red trade cloth adorn the flag giving this lance a truly majestic appeal. Finally, a leather braided strap is attached from the end of the flag itself to the end of the Aspen staff in order to hold the feathers upright while the staff is being held upright by the warrior. In all the flag lances that I ever have seen, this lance is the best specimen I know of along with being incredibly authentic. |
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Description: Mandan Flag Lance |
