Pictures and descriptions of available paintings of Florida Lost Tribes by Theodore Morris

SACRED RAIN
The Calusa believed there were three gods who ruled the world. The greatest and most powerful of these gods controlled the weather, sun, moon, and stars. Elaborate carved wood masks were part of the Calusa religious pageantry. To emphasize the strength of the shaman, Theodore Morris placed him in the bright sunlight in contrast to the dark squall line approaching. Oil Painting - $6,400

Artifacts & Objects: bone hairpins; carved and painted wood mask; seagull, cormorant and hawk feathers; shell and wood ear ornaments; bone necklace; shell bead necklace; deer hide mantle; body paint: red berry mixture and galena (silver powder made from lead traded from Missouri); painted shells; buckskin loincloth; tassels made from finely spun cords of dyed cottonwood tree down; blue jay and pheasant feathers; pearl bracelet; and white Ibis.

Morning Hunt - Oil painting $4500 MORNING HUNT
In the misty morning hours a Tocobaga tribesman stalks his prey. The intricate tattoos on his body indicate he is a leader among his people. The Tocobaga people around Tampa Bay fished, hunted and gathered food from their rich environment. Oil Painting - $6,750

Artifacts & Objects: raccoon tail; fish bladder ear decorations; wood spear with one tip; shell bead necklace; shell pendant; and shell bead bracelet.

EVERGLADES HUNT
As dawn breaks, a hunter stalks prey in the bountiful Everglades. The hardwood hammocks disappear over the horizon like a flotilla of ships. Although we have no accurate description of these people's personal adornments, the bone and shell artifacts were found in the territory of the Tequesta. The loincloth designs are based on pottery designs, and the body paint is a conception of the artist of what this hunter may have used to give himself the power of the animals he hunted. Oil Painting - $6,100

Artifacts & Objects: bone hairpin; eagle and turkey feathers; body paint; hunting bow and arrow; shell garget; shark tooth armband; wrist shell beads; and buckskin loincloth.

THE HUNT
A hunter signals another hunter as he tracks a deer through the marshy grasslands. Deer and other game were used for food and clothing. In addition, wild game was also traded with other tribes.

The atmosphere Theodore Morris tried to create in this painting was one which would demonstrate these early people's oneness with nature and its unity with them. He wanted the viewer to sense the respect that this quiet hunter gives his prey. Beyond that, the hunter's stalwart eyes reveal that he will complete the task before him. Oil Painting - $6,300

Artifacts & Objects: shell bead bracelets; shark tooth pendant; spear point made from chert (stone); and hawk feather.

SPIRIT OF THE FIRES
Fire was a very important aspect of early Indian life. In addition to its usefulness in their day-to-day existence for preparing meals, fires were also considered to be curative as well as mystical, and played an important role in rituals and ceremonies. In the early accounts of the Spaniard, Escobedo, the "lighting of piles of grass" were described "to hunt rabbits."

In this painting, Theodore Morris adorned this colorful principal leader with symbols of red flames leaping from his chest and red paint on his face. His gaze is one of intensity, and strong determination. He is perhaps the leader of the hunt. In his hand is an atlatl (spear thrower) with a carving of a rabbit at the top. The spear base is inserted into the groove of the rabbit. The thrust of the atlatl projects the spear further and faster than hand thrown, alone. Oil Painting - $2,100

Artifacts & Objects: pheasant and turkey feathers; fish bladder ear decorations; wood labet inserted under lip; body paint; carved stone pendant; pearl necklace; silver and copper alloy metal disc; and atlatl with rabbit carving.

EAGLE WAR CHIEF (Timucuan Tribe)
This fierce warrior contemplates battle. His distinctive eagle headdress, brutal war club, pearl beads and shiny copper ornaments indicate his status as a war leader. The raccoon tails attached to the back of his breechcloth validate the ancients' value of all animals. The unusual turkey feet ear ornaments were document in the early French portraits of the Florida Indians. This large agricultural based tribe occupied a third of the northern Florida peninsula. Oil Painting - $4,400

Artifacts & Objects: eagle headdress with tassel; turkey feet ear adornments; hardwood war club; shell and pearl bead armbands; deerskin breechcloth with raccoon tails; and circular chest piece: thin layer of copper over carved wood.

APALACHEE WARRIOR
"In order to give battle they dress themselves elaborately, after their usage, painted all over with red ochre and with their heads full of multicolored feathers." - Spanish Missionary, 1700

In this painting, Theodore Morris tried to capture the warrior's intensity. The painted deerskin robe protects him from north Florida's frigid winter weather. Morris took the symbols from the Apalachee pottery designs to decorate the deerskin. Oil Painting - $3,900

Artifacts & Objects: seagull, turkey, cormorant, eagle and blue jay feathers; shell beads; copper ear decorations; pearl necklace; and deer skin robe.

HIGH PRIESTS
Priests wore masks described by Spanish Jesuits in 1567 as "horrible," which were kept in a temple build on top of a special mound. Although the masks played an important role in the Calusa culture, their exact purpose is not known. These priests are immersed in the lush tropical environment. Oil Painting - $4,100

Artifacts & Objects: LEFT: cormorant feathers; carved and painted wood mask; silver pendant; copper bead necklace; shell hair beads; body paint; and shell and bone bracelets. RIGHT: bone hairpins; carved and painted wood mask; shell bead armband; and body paint.