Indian Tobacco Shop Sign
second half 19th century National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
About this artwork
A painted wooden trade sign featuring a profile view of a Native American figure holding a bundle of tobacco, likely used as an advertisement for a 19th-century tobacconist shop.
Did you know?
These figures, commonly known as 'cigar store Indians,' were ubiquitous in 19th-century American cities. They served as silent street salespeople, alerting illiterate passersby or immigrants to the availability of tobacco products inside shops. While intended as a commercial tool, they have since become complex symbols in American history, reflecting both the romanticized and stereotypic portrayals of Indigenous peoples during that era.
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Indian Tobacco Shop Sign
American 19th Century, second half 19th century
