One of the most famous medal series, but also one that no collector owns, is the series of Indian bas-relief portraits by sculptor Edward Warren Sawyer. The series is known simply as “Sawyer’s Indians.” They are known only in museums!
Sculptor Edward Warren Sawyer (1876-1932) in the early years of the 20th century traveled to the American West to live among the tribes of the American Indians. His goal was to capture portraits of prominent Indians.
This was not an easy task as the Indians believed such reproductions also captured their spirit. Thus they disliked, even prohibited, being photographed. Sawyer had to first gain their confidence – by living amongst them – then gently urging his chosen model to sit for him. Perhaps that action didn’t seem to extract the sprit from the body he was modeling with his clay. It was not like a photograph. His subject could see the slow progress in replicating his features and his adornment in the slowly mounting clay.
The result is a body of work unlike any other in American history or portraiture! Sawyer captured more than forty Indian images in highly realistic glyptic detail. They are preserved in two American museums – The Smithsonian Institution in their Numismatic Division Collections, and the American Numismatic Society – but notably, neither has the complete series,
Sawyer made at least three such study trips to the West. He lived among thirteen Indian tribes to select his more than forty subjects. While he selected chiefs, he also portrayed lesser tribe members as well. For all he recorded their tribal affiliation, for most of his subjects he recorded their Indian name, and often, the meaning of that name. As the Cheyenne’s Ho-Tua-Hwo-Ko-Mas means Buffalo Hump.
After the third trip Sawyer sought a bit more refined inspiration, He wanted to partake in an art atmosphere more suited to his talents. He wanted to go to France and share the inspirations of Paris.
But before he moved there he wrote of his portrait activity among the American Indians. His “My Work Among the Indians” was published in the American Journal of Numismatics. He somehow knew his work would be of numismatic importance.
We have record of five bas-relief portraits of non Indian subjects. He had these five made in galvano form by Henri Weil of Medallic Art Company. In fact he deposited with Henri all of his Indian plaster reliefs.
The present writer never cataloged the galvanos made by the company – only the medals struck by the firm. Sawyer never had any of his medallic work struck as medals, only by electrogalvanic casting.
Having said that, in 1975 long after his death in 1932 one of his Indian heads, Curley of the Crow Tribe, was put on the Janvier reducing machine and a 6-inch die cut. This also required a trimming die for a silhouette of the Indian head. This was intended for a plate insert, and as best as I remember the head was goldplated and affixed to a sterling silver plate. The marketing was not successful and any further action with “Sawyer’s Indians” abandoned.
It is not known, therefore, exactly when Sawyers’ plaster models were cast in metal. We do know the American Numismatic Society obtained and accessioned their pieces in 1940. This could have been a “make-work” project of Clyde Curle Trees, president at the time, to supplement the meager medallic jobs flowing through the plant in the late 1930 depression years.
However below is the entry in Dick Johnson Databank of American Artists on Edward Sawyer’s complete entry. It lists those Indian portraits from the published information on this series.
It appears the Indian galvanos were made in two sizes. Were these Sawyer’s original model sizes, or was some form of reductions made at Medallic Art is not known to this writer.
Thus more research is necessary for this most famous medallic series that no one has!
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SAWYER, Edward Warren (1876-1932) sculptor, medalist. Born Chicago, Illinois, 17 March 1876. He moved to Paris 1912. Died Toulon, France, 16 July 1932.
Noted for preparing more than forty American Indian bas-reliefs from thirteen Indian tribes. Those listed below are those reliefs reproduced by Medallic Art Company in galvano form for the artist.
Exhibited five of these reliefs at National Academy of Design, 1907 (item 415) and nine at the International Exhibition of Contemporary Medals at the American Numismatic Society, 1910. One of his Sioux Indian Portraits was exhibited at F.I.D.E.M. Stockholm AF6 {1955} but exhibit catalog did not specify which of the three Sioux portraits (we have indicated Soto below).
Awarded: J. Sanford Saltus Medal for Medallic Art by American Numismatic Society, 1931.
G A L V A N O S E R I E S
American Indian Portrait Series:
1904 Arizona Indian Chief Tja-yo-ni Galvano
Medal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ANS (IECM) 4
1904 Arizona Nol-To-I Galvano Medal . . . . . . . . . . .
Collection: American Numismatic Society. . 1940.100.2179
1904 Yuma Ne-I-So-Meh Galvano Medal . . . . . . . . . . .
Collection: American Numismatic Soc [>1] . 1940.100.2172
1908 Apache Agua Caliente Galvano Medal . . . . . . . . .
Collection: American Numismatic Society. . 1940.100.2185
1908 Apache Indian Scout Captain Coffey Galvano
Medal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ANS (IECM) 3
Collection: American Numismatic Society. . 1940.100.2186
1908 Apache Old Jim Agua Caliente Galvano Relief ANS (IECM) 8
Collection: American Numismatic Soc [>1] . 1940.100.2171
Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . . 668:32
1908 Apache Without Name Galvano Relief . . . . . ANS (IECM) 2,
Collection: American Numismatic Society. . 1940.100.2176
Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . . 668:33
1912 Apache Naiche Galvano Relief . . . . . . . . . . . .
Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . . 668:34
1912 Arapahoe Ba-Haw (Big Bow) Galvano Relief . . . . . .
Collection: American Numismatic Society. . 1940.100.2187
Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . . 668:35
1912 Arapahoe Han-Ni-Ait Galvano Relief . . . . . . . . .
Collection: American Numismatic Society. . 1940.100.2196
Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . . 668:36
1912 Arapahoe Ne-Aie-Ta-Ha-Wa (Eagle Chief) Relief. . . .
Collection: American Numismatic Society. . 1940.100.2197
Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . . 668:37
1912 Arapahoe Esh-Sha-A-Nish-Is (Two Moons) Galvano Relief
Collection: American Numismatic Society. . 1940.100.2199
Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . . 668:38
1912 Cheyenne Be-Shae-Chi-Edi-Esha Galvano Relief . . .
Collection: American Numismatic Society. . 1940.100.2193
1912 Cheyenne Ho-Tua-Hwo-Ko-Mas (Buffalo Hump)
Galvano Relief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Collection: American Numismatic Society. . 1940.100.2184
Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . . 668:39
1912 Cheyenne Ma-Ki-Na-Ko (Big Bear) Galvano Relief . . .
Collection: American Numismatic Society. . 1940.100.2173
Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . . 668:40
1912 South Cheyenne Che-Ho-Ni (Little Wolf) Galvano
Relief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Collection: American Numismatic Society. . 1940.100.2198
Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . . 668:41
1912 South Cheyenne Nogo-To-Mah Galvano Relief. . . . . .
Collection: American Numismatic Society. . 1940.100.2168
Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . . 668:42
1912 South Cheyenne Ma-Si-Ni (Red Breast) Galvano Relief
Collection: American Numismatic Society. . 1940.100.2188
Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . . 668:43
1912 Comanche Tah-Do-Ni-Pper Galvano Relief . . . . . . .
Collection: American Numismatic Society. . 1940.100.2192
Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . . 669:44
1912 Comanche Timbo Galvano Relief. . . . . . . . . . . .
Collection: American Numismatic Society. . 1940.100.2182
Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . . 669:45
1912 Crow Be-Sha-E-Chi-E-Di-Esha (Big Ox) Galvano Relief
Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . . 669:46
Illustrated: National Sculpture Soc AE8 {1923} p . . 311
1912 Crow Curley-Custer Scout Galvano Relief. . . . . . .
Collection: American Numismatic Society. . 1940.100.2194
Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . . 669:47
1912 Crow Ech-Spa-Di-E-Ash (Hunts the Enemy) Galvano
Relief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Collection: American Numismatic Society. . 1940.100.2167
Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . . 669:48
1912 Kickapoo Be-Me-Tha Galvano Relief. . . . . . . . . .
Collection: American Numismatic Society. . 1940.100.2181
Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . . 669:49
1912 Kickapoo On-Ah-Shin-Nin-Nah Galvano Relief . . . . .
Collection: American Numismatic Society. . 1940.100.2190
Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . . 669:50
1912 Navajo Chief Tja-Yo-Ni Galvano Relief. . . ANS (IECM) 4
Collection: American Numismatic Soc [>1] . 1940.100.2175
Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . . 669:51
Illustrated: National Sculpture Soc AE8 {1923} p . . 311
1912 Navajo Est-Zan-Lopa Galvano Relief . . . . . . . . .
Collection: American Numismatic Society. . 1940.100.2189
Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . . 669:52
1912 Navajo Noi-To-I Galvano Relief . . . . . . . . . . .
Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . . 669:53
1912 Oglala Sioux Chief Sota (Smoke) Galvano Relief . . .
Collection: American Numismatic Soc [>1] 0000.999.45988
Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . . 669:54
Exhibited: AF6 {1955} F.I.D.E.M. Stockholm (1955). . 57
1912 Oglala Sioux Hunpe Ka (Moccasins) Galvano Relief . .
Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . . 669:55
1912 Oglala Sioux Sunka Hanska (Tall Dog) Galvano Relief.
Collection: American Numismatic Society. . 1940.100.2174
Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . . 669:56
1912 Osage Kah-Wah-Se (Yellow Horse) Galvano Relief . . .
Collection: American Numismatic Society. . 1940.100.2169
Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . . 670:57
1912 Osage See-Hah (Buffalo Feet) Galvano Relief. . . . .
Collection: American Numismatic Society. . 1940.100.2195
Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . . 670:58
1912 Pawnee Sah-Cooh-Ru-Tu-Ree-Hoo (Big Sun) Galvano
Relief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Collection: American Numismatic Society. . 1940.100.2200
Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . . 670:59
1912 Pawnee Stah-Pe-U Galvano Relief. . . . . . . . . . .
Collection: American Numismatic Society. . 1940.100.2170
Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . . 670:60
1912 Pawnee Pee-Ru-Ths (Fat Woman) Galvano Relief . . . .
Collection: American Numismatic Society. . 1940.100.2183
Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . . 670:61
1912 Wichita Chief To-Wak-Oui-Jim Galvano Relief. . . . .
Collection: American Numismatic Society. . 1940.100.2180
Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . . 670:62
1912 Yuma Nei-I-So-Meh Galvano Relief . . . . . ANS (IECM) 7
Collection: Smithsonian National Numismatic. . . 670:63
G A L V A N O R E L I E F S
1907 Gregory (Miriam) Galvano Relief. . . . . . . . . . . .
Collection: American Numismatic Society. . . . 1997.86.1
1908 Maurer (Alfred H.) Galvano Relief. . . . . . . . . ANS (IECM) 1
Collection: American Numismatic Society. . 1940.100.497
1908 Sawyer (Marie Christiani) Galvano Relief . . ANS (IECM) 6
Collection: American Numismatic Society. . 1940.100.510
1909 Ullman (Eugene Paul Galvano Relief . . . . . . ANS (IECM) 5
Collection: American Numismatic Society. . 1940.100.517
1910 Osborne (Theodore E.) Galvano Relief . . . ANS (IECM) 10
Collection: American Numismatic Society. . 1940.100.499
R E P L I C A S & R E I S S U E S
1975 Crow Curley-Custer Portrait Relief (relief die and
trimming die made from 1912 galvano original,
diestruck and trimmed to silhouette head). . . . . .
Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J&J 14:458
C O L L E C T I O N S
C4 {1912} Comparette, Indian Galvano portraits, 32–63, p 668-670.
R E F E R E N C E S
E3 {1902-30} Forrer 2:343, 8:188-190.
NE2 {1911} ANS (IECM) 1-9, p 289-290 (biography).
P1 {191x) Sawyer (Edward W.) My Work Among the Indians American Journal of Numismatics 47: p 159.
P2 {1913} The Numismatist 26:8 (August 1913).
A10 {1915} Pan-Pacific Expo Art Exhibit Catalog.
AE8 {1923} NSS Exhibit Catalog, pp 218, 361.
P30 {1924} New York Times (23 January) 17:4.
D8 {1926} Fielding, p 319.
AE6 {1929} NSS Exhibit Catalog, p 285.
P30 {1932} New York Times (20 July) 15:1.
BA {1937} Who’s Who In American Art: 1937 [1ed:371].
AF6 {1955} F.I.D.E.M. Exhibition Catalog 6th Congress Stockholm (1955) 57, p 23.
D29 {1976} Samuels, p 421.
BF1 {1985} Falk, p 544.
D33 {1986} Opitz, p 815.
AE1 {1988} Falk, p 2:425.
AE5 {1990} National Academy of Design, p 461.
BF2 {1999} Falk. Who Was Who in American Art, p 3:2904.
101 {2003} Barter (Judith A,) Window on the West: Chicago and the Art of te New Frontier, 1890-1940, Chicago: Art Institute (2003) illus, p 38, 159, 184.
D3a {2006} Benezit.Dictionary of Artists, p 12:494.
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