S and S Hand Carved Cigar Store Indians
and Other Wooden Figures

Welcome to S and S Machine's woodcarvings web page. We are very pleased to be able to offer these stunning carvings including cigar store Indians to art lovers throughout the USA. These figures are hand carved for us in Thailand by skilled woodcarvers that take great pride in their work. They are carved from a kiln dried hardwood called Monkey Pod. In addition to the many individual item numbers shown here, we have noticed that for any specific item, there is a wide range of variation. They vary because each figure is individually hand carved and even the best carvers can't duplicate a pattern exactly from carving to carving. It is that uniqueness that makes each of these carvings so exceptional.

Indians Cowboys Soldiers Golfers Carousel Horses Mini Horses Rockers All Indians
Contact us Prices Sizes Links About S&S Machine Carving Process Where to buy

Hand Carved Cigar Store Indians and Busts

Wooden Indian size comparison

Indians are available in 3 sizes:  20", 40" and 70"
Click for larger image

About our hand carved wooden cigar store Indians:

We have an extensive variety of beautifully hand carved wooden cigar store Indians and quite possibly one of the largest inventories anywhere in the USA.  We have hundreds of these in stock at our warehouse in Roseville, California (between Sacramento and Auburn just off Interstate 80).   The facial features of these Indians are incredible and it's apparent that the artisans spare no effort when it comes to including minute details. They are very authentic looking and will be an attention getter in any setting. Whether you are an interior decorator looking for the right piece for a home, an individual looking for a carving for a card or game room or a business owner looking for an attention getting trade sign, we have the right size and style to meet your needs.

The images linked to on the right, show all the steps of production of a Cigar Store Indian starting from a rough log through the painting process. This carving village is a family operation that has been carving wood now for 15 generations. 

To see the process from rough log to finished carving,
click here if you have a fast internet connection
or 
here if you have a slow internet connection

The history of cigar store Indians 

Cigar store Indians are a form of American Folk Art dating back to the 1800s. They were commonly placed on the walk in front of tobacconist shops to direct illiterate customers to the shop. Also, since there were so many immigrants that couldn't read English, it was common to use visual trade signs such as a carving instead of written signs to bridge the language barrier. The cigar store Indian was said to be the most popular trade sign but other businesses used trade signs too. A barber pole for a barber shop, a key for a locksmith or a pair of scissors for a tailor. An Indian was chosen for a tobacco shop because it was Indians that introduced tobacco to early explorers of the America therefore they were commonly associated with tobacco. In the late 1800s, new restrictions regarding the placement of trade signs on the sidewalk marked the decline of their use. For a more complete history of cigar store Indians or trade signs, see the links at the bottom of this page. 

Cigar store Indians that we stock

Click on an Indian to see a larger image and additional views

Indians available 
in 3 sizes:

Small = 20"

Medium = 40"

Large = 70" 

 

Item # Item #01
Right hand Tomahawk
Left hand Spear
Headdress Headband
Other  
Small = 20" 0 In Stock
Medium = 40" 1 In Stock
Large = 70" 0 In Stock

 

Click on an Indian to see a larger image and additional views
Indians available 
in 3 sizes:

 

 

 

 

Item # Item #10 Item #15
Right hand Spear Spear
Left hand Horn Shield
Headdress   Full Length
Other    
Small = 20" 0 In Stock 0 In Stock
Medium = 40" 1 In Stock 1 In Stock
Large = 70" 0 In Stock 0 In Stock

 

Click on an Indian to see a larger image and additional views
Indians 
available 
in 3 sizes:

Small = 20"

Medium = 40"

Large = 70" 

 

Item # Item #28
Right hand Pistol
Left hand Rifle
Headdress Headband
Other  
Small = 20" 0 In Stock
Medium = 40" 1 In Stock
Large = 70" 0 In Stock

 

Click on an Indian bust to see a larger image and additional views
Item #52 Item #53
25" Tall 40" Tall to feathers
2 In Stock 3 In Stock

Cowboy and Western Figures

Click on a cowboy to see a larger image and additional views
All Cowboys
Available 
in 3 sizes:

Small = 20"

Medium = 40"

Large = 70" 

 

Item # Item # 95 Item # 24 Item #32
Right hand Saddle Saddle Pistol
Left hand Pistol Pistol His  hip
Name Chester   Sheriff
  70" only Same as #25 Same as #33
Small = 20" 0 In Stock 6 In Stock 7 In Stock
Medium = 40" 0 In Stock 11 In Stock 12 In Stock
Large = 70" 3 In Stock 4 In Stock 0 In Stock

 

Click on a Cowboy bust to see a larger image and additional views
Item #74 Item #77 Item #72
25" Tall 20" TAll 14" and 25" Tall
  Chris Ken
Color as shown Color as shown Blue only

 

Click on a Cowboy bust to see a larger image and additional views
Item #71 Item #73
14" and 25" Tall 14" and 25" Tall
Uncle Harry Jay
Colors: Blue, red or green Colors: Blue, red and green

Civil War Soldiers

Click on a soldier to see a larger image and additional views

All Soldiers
Available 
in 3 sizes:

Small = 20"

Medium = 40"

Large = 70" 

 

Item # Item #18 Item #17
Right hand Rifle Hat
Left hand Knife Saber
  Confederate Soldier Union Soldier
Name Woody  

Golfers

Click on the golfer to see a larger image
  and additional views and color schemes
Item #57 Item # 20
30" Tall 60" Tall
Various Colors Various colors

Carousel Horses   

Click on a carousel horse to see a larger image and more views
Item #35

Item #36

Carousel horse, head up Carousel horse, head down
56" Tall from floor 56" Tall from floor

Mini Horses

Click on either horse to see additional styles

 Item #86 - 2,3,6,7 and 8

Item #86- 1,4 and 5
Mini horse  with saddle
or business card holder saddle
Mini horse, no saddle
12" Tall 12" Tall

Rocking Animals

Click on a rocker to see a larger image and more views

Item #23 Item #64 Item #65
30" Long x 20" tall 30" Tall small 36" Tall, medium

Links

Random photos of the large 70" carvings in our warehouse in Roseville.

 


Contact Information

Home Page

 

"We're collectors. We see objects of great beauty and we must have them."
George, in "The Cigar Store Indian" episode of Seinfeld

ig photos of misc items