Tom McNeely (Canadian, B. 1935) "American Indian Headdresses/Cheyenne" Signed lower left. Original Watercolor Painting. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was published on the Fleetwood Maximum Card for the U.S. 25c "Cheyenne" stamp issued August 17, 1990. For the Cheyenne, as for all Indians, the elaborate feathered headdress was a symbol of immense power and great medicine. Those who wore it were the recipients of that power. One such Cheyenne warrior was the mighty Bat -- known as Roman Nose to the whites -- who stood six-foot, three-in. tall and was thought to be invincible in battle. Roman Nose wore a magic headdress made for him by a medicine man named Ice. Its power was believed so great that whenever Roman Nose wore it into battle, he was untouchable; bullets and arrows whizzed past him time and again. The huge man delighted in proving his prowess, loping on his horse casually across the enemy's line of fire without harm. This feat, of course, inspired the other Cheyenne warriors to follow their hero into battle. However, the medicine of this headdress was neutralized if Roman Nose happened to eat anything taken from a pot with an iron instrument, such as a fork. Accordingly, he diligently avoided the white man's utensils. But on the eve of a battle with fifty frontiersmen in 1868, he accidentally ate a piece of bread taken from a skillet with a fork. The next day, Roman Nose was mortally wounded on the battlefield. The Cheyenne, like Roman Nose, were noted for their horsemanship and their courage. A cautious people, they avoided conflict if possible. Tragically, they often had to pay for the misdeeds of other tribes in their own blood, as many white men thought all Indians to be the same, regardless of tribe. Image Size: 18.75 x 25.75 in. Overall Size: 20.75 x 26.75 in. Unframed. (B12362)