Plains Indian Shield
from Cowboys and Indians
Medium: Screenprint in colors on Lenox Museum Board
Year: 1986
Sheet: 36×36 inches (91.4 x 91.4 cm)
Edition: 250
Artist’s Proofs: 50 AP
Printer’s Proofs: 15 PP
Hors Commerce: 15 HC
Other: 10 numbered in Roman numerals
Trial Proofs: 36 TP in unique color combination
(see Feldmann & Schellmann IIB.382)
Publisher: Gaultney, Klineman Art, Inc., New York
Printer: Rupert Jasen Smith, New-York
Literature: Feldmann & Schellmann II.382
All signed and numbered in pencil lower left
With the publisher’s blindstamp and the artist’s copyright inkstamp on the reverse
Plains Indian Shield is part of Cowboys and Indians
(Click on picture below to access the Catalogue entry)
Plains Indians Sheild depicts a Crow Tribe (Apsáalooke) shield the artist photographed at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in 1985. A similar Crow shield (left), now displayed at the Penn Museum, has been reproduced above in place of an image of the original, in accordance with the wishes of the Crow Tribe.
Shield with Cover, Penn Museum, Pan-American Exposition
Wanamaker Expedition / R. Stewart Culin, 1901
Warhol’s Plains Indian Shield depicts a simultaneously tactical and decorated object, like the military uniforms in Warhol’s portraits of General Custer and Teddy Roosevelt. The shield, as a defensive object of war, serves as formal and cultural contrast to the image of an armed John Wayne or the stern General Custer. Interestingly, Crow warriors served alongside Custer’s companies during the Great Sioux War of 1867, fighting alongside U.S. Forces at Little Bighorn. The shield also echoes the Indian Head Nickel—another object of value and utility adding a visually circular tableaux to the portfolio.
Auction Market Overview
Regular Editions
Heritage Auctions: 16 October 2025
Estimated: USD 40,000 – 60,000
USD 30,000
ANDY WARHOL (1928-1987)
Plains Indian Shield (Feldman & Shellmann, II.382), 1986
From Cowboys and Indians
Screenprint in colors on Lenox Museum Board
A.P. 4/50
(aside from an edition of 250, 15 printer’s proofs, 15 hors commerce, and 10 editioned in Roman numerals)
Signed and editioned in pencil lower left
LA Modern: 3 September 2025
Estimated: USD 28,000 – 32,000
PASSED
Signed and numbered to lower left ‘148/250 Andy Warhol’
With publisher’s blindstamp. Artist’s stamp to verso
Rago: 5 June 2025
Estimated: USD 30,000 – 40,000
PASSED
ANDY WARHOL (1928–1987)
Plains Indian Shield (from the Cowboys and Indians series) (Feldman/Schellmann II.382), 1986
Screenprint in colors on Lenox Museum Board
Signed and numbered to lower left ‘27/250 Andy Warhol’
Wright: 3 April 2025
Estimated: USD 25,000 – 35,000
USD 33,020
ANDY WARHOL (1928–1987)
Plains Indian Shield (from the Cowboys and Indians series) (Feldman/Schellmann II.382), 1986
Screenprint in colors on Lenox Museum Board
Signed and numbered to lower left ‘AP 15/50 Andy Warhol’ with publisher’s inkstamp to verso
An artist’s proof 15 of 50 apart from the edition of 250
Artnet Auctions: 19 March 2025
Estimated: USD 25,000 – 35,000
USD 28,750
ANDY WARHOL (American, 1928–1987)
Plains Indian Shield (from Cowboys and Indians) (F&S II.382), 1986
Screenprint in colors on Lenox Museum Board
Signed and numbered AP 40/50 in pencil
An artist’s Proof 40/50 aside from edition of 250
Artnet Auctions: 19 September 2024
Estimated: USD 20,000 – 30,000
USD 30,000
ANDY WARHOL
Plains Indian Shield (from Cowboys and Indians), 1986
Screenprint in colors on Lenox Museum Board
Signed and numbered in pencil
Artist’s Proof 1/50 aside from edition of 250
Sotheby’s New-York: 28 October 2022
Estimated: USD 15,000 – 25,000
USD 32,760
ANDY WARHOL (1928 – 1987)
Plains Indian Shield, from Cowboys and Indians, 1986
Screenprint in colors on Lenox Museum Board
Signed in pencil and inscribed PP 9/15
One of 15 printer’s proofs aside from the numbered edition of 250 plus 50 artist’s proofs
Heritage Auctions: 26 October 2022
Estimated: USD 15,000 – 20,000
USD 35,000
ANDY WARHOL (1928 – 1987)
Plains Indian Shield, from Cowboys and Indians, 1986
Screenprint in colors on Lenox Museum Board
Signed and numbered 138/250 in pencil lower left
Hindman: 12 May 2022
Estimated: USD 8,000 – 12,000
USD 34,375
ANDY WARHOL (American, 1928-1987)
Plains Indian Shield (from Cowboys and Indians), 1986
Screenprint on Lenox Museum Board
Signed and numbered 27/250 in pencil
Rago: 24 February 2022
Estimated: USD 40,000 – 60,000
USD 40,000
AUCTION RECORD FOR PLAINS INDIAN SHIELD (REGULAR EDITION)
ANDY WARHOL (1928–1987)
Plains Indian Shield (from the Cowboys and Indians series), 1986
Screenprint in colors on Lenox Museum Board
Signed and numbered to lower left ‘AP 19/50 Andy Warhol’ with blindstamp
This work is artist proof number 19 of 50 apart from the edition of 250
Dorotheum Vienna: 26 November 2020
Estimated: EUR 8,000 – 12,000
EUR 12,800 / USD 15,000
ANDY WARHOL (Pittsburgh 1928–1987 New York)
Plains Indian shield (from Cowboys and Indians series), 1986
Screenprint on Lenox Museum Board
Signed and numbered 110/250
Stamped Andy Warhol Art Authentication Board Inc. with number A141.1110 on the reverse
Plains Indian Shield (71/250)
Sotheby’s New-York: 26 October 2019
Estimated: USD 8,000 – 12,000
USD 13,750
Plains Indian Shield (2/250)
Freeman’s Hindman: 14 December 2017
Estimated: USD 6,000 – 8,000
USD 16,250
Trial Proofs
Plains Indian Shield (TP 5/36), 1986
Artnet Auctions: 20 March 2024
Estimated: USD 40,000 – 60,000
USD 50,000
TRIAL PROOF
ANDY WARHOL
Plains Indian Shield (from Cowboys and Indians), 1986
Screenprint in unique color variant on Lenox Museum Board
Trial Proof 5/36 aside from edition of 250
Signed and numbered in pencil