Reproduction Print “Tuch-Ee, a Cherokee War Chief” by S. Howitt, 1855

Details

Description

An important 19th-century hand-colored engraving depicting Tuch-ee, a Cherokee War Chief, published in 1855 as part of Dr. Prichard’s Natural … Read more An important 19th-century hand-colored engraving depicting Tuch-ee, a Cherokee War Chief, published in 1855 as part of Dr. Prichard’s Natural History of Man. This striking portrait presents the sitter in three-quarter profile, rendered with remarkable sensitivity and detail, emphasizing dignified expression, traditional dress, and ceremonial adornment.

The subject is shown wearing layered garments with fringe detailing, beaded ornamentation, and a wrapped head covering adorned with feathers—elements that reflect both cultural identity and period European interpretations of Indigenous leaders. The original work is finely hand-colored, with subtle tonal gradations in the skin, textiles, and background. It is printed on hard cardstock paper.

The plate from which this was printed is titled beneath the image “Tuch-ee, a Cherokee War Chief”, with publication details reading “London & New York: H. Baillière, 1855”. The upper margin is inscribed “Dr. Prichard’s Natural History of Man”, Plate XXVII, identifying the engraving as part of an influential mid-19th-century anthropological publication.

This work represents both a historic document of Indigenous representation and an important artifact of early ethnographic illustration.

Artist Information:
Samuel Howitt (British, active early–mid 19th century)
The engraving is after a work by Samuel Howitt, a British artist known for natural history and ethnographic illustrations. Howitt contributed imagery to several scholarly publications of the era, including The Natural History of Man by James Cowles Prichard, a pioneering (though now critically reassessed) anthropologist. Plates from this series are today collected for their historical significance, artistry, and rarity.

Details
Artist: After Samuel Howitt
Title: Tuch-ee, a Cherokee War Chief
Date: 1855
Medium: Hand-colored engraving on paper
Publication: Dr. Prichard’s Natural History of Man
Publisher: H. Baillière, London & New York

Condition: New print condition which captures the age-appropriate toning, light foxing, and minor edge wear consistent with the original mid-19th-century work.

Unframed (easily matted and framed)

Historical Context
Published during a period of intense European interest in ethnography, this piece reflects 19th-century efforts to document Indigenous leaders and cultures. While modern scholarship recognizes the limitations and biases of such works, original plates like the one this is reprinted after remain vital historical records and are actively collected by museums, universities, and private collectors of Native American, American history, and early anthropology material.

Styling Suggestions
Frame with a museum-style mat and simple wood or ebonized frame.
Ideal for a library, study, or curated gallery wall.
Pairs beautifully with maps, early Americana, or natural history engravings.
Suitable for collectors of Native American history, ethnographic art, or 19th-century reprints
Striking in both traditional and elevated modern interiors when thoughtfully presented.

Dimensions:
5.75" Wide
9.25" Tall See less