Cigar Store Indian 1935 - 1942

This is a painted rendering of a Cigar Store Indian, made by Alton K. Skillin. The image is related to the history of craft, specifically woodworking and carving, and how this intersects with commerce and cultural representation. Cigar store Indians were traditionally carved from wood, using techniques that required skilled craftsmanship and an understanding of form and material. They were commercial objects, made for display and to attract customers to tobacco shops. What's interesting here is the role these objects played in both celebrating and commodifying Indigenous cultures. While they were intended to honor Native Americans, they also reduced them to stereotypes for profit. This tension highlights the complex relationship between craft, cultural appropriation, and the marketplace, revealing how an object can embody both admiration and exploitation. Considering the history of this image, we can start to understand the broader social and political context in which craft objects are produced and consumed.