American Furniture, Folk & Decorative Arts

Although this figure no longer retains his costume accessories or most of his carved pendants and bosses, it shares numerous characteristics with two iconic Folk Art figures: American Indian Man (1986.65.303) and American Indian Woman (1986.65.384), in the collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, formerly in the collection of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr. (1929-1998). A January 19, 1987, New York Times article, announcing the Smithsonian's acquisition of the Hemphill Folk Art collection notes that the figures were used as shop signs in a New Jersey store.
This figure's proportions, large bellied posture, treatment of hands and the pattern of pendants is almost identical to both of the Hemphill figures, while his facial features are more closely related to those of the Indian Woman. This figure retains a quiver similar to that on the Indian male figure, and is carved with similar arms, suspenders, protruding ankle bones, shoes, and naturalistically carved circular base. The similarities strongly suggest that this Trapper figure was carved by the same maker as the two Hemphill figures.