Three-quarter length albumen studio view of two Kiowa warriors. Fort Sill, Indian Territory: W.P. Bliss, n.d. Photographer imprint printed to mount verso. Period pencil inscription “Kiowa Braves” to mount verso. Modern pencil inscription “Kiowa Braves/ ex B.F Mueller Collection.”

A captivating 1870s portrait of two Kiowa warriors taken at the Fort Sill Indian Territory studio by W.P. Bliss. The warriors are staggered, with one seated in a chair whilst the other stands behind. Feathers are twisted into their hair, and the warrior seated has traditional face painting. Bone breast plates are worn by both, symbolizing their identity and status as warriors within the Kiowa community. The imprint on the reverse identifies W.P. Bliss as the photographer, who was known for his extensive photographic documentation of Native Americans at Fort Sill during the Indian Wars following the Civil War. 

A fine portrait of warriors from the early reservation period, taken while Fort Sill centralized itself as a point of transition and surveillance for Plains tribes in the midst of westward expansion. 

[Native Americans, Native American History, American Indian, Indian History] [Photography, Early Photography, Historic Photography, Daguerreotypes, Ambrotypes, Tintypes, Cased Images, Union Cases, Albumen Photographs, CDVs, Carte de Visites, Cartes de Visite, Carte-de-visite, Cartes-de-visite, CDV, Cabinet Cards, Stereoviews, Stereocards, Stereographs]
[Western Americana, Western History, Western Expansion, Wild West]