L’Tetan

Thomas Mann, L'Tetan, 1993, silver, copper, brass, nickel, Plexiglas, and color photocopy, 5 x 3 ¹⁄₄ x ¹⁄₂ in. (12.7 x 8.3 x 1.3 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Lloyd E. Herman, founding director and director emeritus of the Renwick Gallery (1971−1986), 1997.72.3, © 1993, Thomas Mann

Artwork Details

Title: L’Tetan
Artist: Thomas Mann
Date: 1993
Location: Not on view
Dimensions: 5 x 3 ¹⁄₄ x ¹⁄₂ in. (12.7 x 8.3 x 1.3 cm.)
Copyright: © 1993, Thomas Mann
Credit Line: Gift of Lloyd E. Herman, founding director and director emeritus of the Renwick Gallery (1971−1986)
Mediums: nickel
plexiglas
brass
copper
silver
Mediums Description: silver, copper, brass, nickel, Plexiglas, and color photocopy
Classifications: Decorative Arts
Subjects: Indian
Dress — accessory — jewelry
Homage — Catlin, George
Portrait male — L’Tetan — bust
Object Number: 1997.72.3
Linked Open Data: https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1997.72.3

Artwork Description

Thomas Mann made these pieces for an exhibition about cowboys, but decided to focus on the Native Americans' point of view. The chiefs--- L'Tetan, Nesouaquoit or "Bear in the Forks of a Tree" (see 1997.72.5), No-Tin or "Wind" (see 1997.72.1), Nowaykesugga or "He Who Strikes Two at Once" (see 1997.72.6), Shauhaunapotinia or "Man Who Killed Three Sioux" (see 1997.72.4), and Tok'Acou or "He That Inflicts the First Wound" (see 1997.72.2)--- were members of a large delegation of Indians who came to Washington in the winter of 1821-1822 to see President Monroe. Thomas McKenney, the head of the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs from 1816 until 1830, commissioned artists James Otto Lewis and Charles Bird King to preserve the likenesses of the visitors. These portraits later were published in a portfolio of prints with a text written by James Hall. Mann found McKenney and Hall's History of the Indian Tribes of North America at a flea market and used images from the book for these pieces.