Lot 1057: Donal Hord (American, 1902-1966) Peon Game (Chanting Woman; Seated Woman and Child; Passers; Guessers), 1950 first height: 18in; second height: 9in; third height: 9in; fourth height: 12in

Peon Game (Chanting Woman; Seated Woman and Child; Passers; Guessers), 1950
each initialed 'DH' and marked with cipher, numbered (on the underside of the base)
glazed stoneware
first height: 18in; second height: 9in; third height: 9in; fourth height: 12in

PROVENANCE:
Collection of the artist's wife
Collection of the Dubois Family, Alpine, California
With Orr's Gallery, San Diego, California
Private collection

EXHIBITED:
Donal Hord Retrospective, California First Bank, La Jolla, California, 1976.

LITERATURE:
The Journal of San Diego History, 1985, Vol. XXXI, No. 3, page 204, listed as catalogue #108.

Chanting Woman is number 16 of an edition of 25.
Seated Woman and Child is number 22 of an edition of 25.
Passers is number 8 of an edition of 15.
Guessers is number 6 of an edition of 15.
All are identified with a symbol from Iron Mountain Stoneware, Laurel Bloomery, Tennessee, where they were created in 1950.

Peon is a highly competitive Indian game of complex strategy, skill and calculation. It is played with eight players - four on each side, with an additional man or woman to act as umpire. The two sides are usually made up of male or female players from different tribes or bands. The object of the game is for one side to win all the tally sticks. Much betting accompanies the game among both the men and the women. The game may be won in a short time, or it may - as frequently happens - prolong itself through an entire night, until the early morning.

Someone will select a smooth vacant place and build a small fire and spread his blanket and sit down. He will then holler "pe-own-e." No one seems to pay any attention to him. By and by, he will again holler "Pe-own-e." Then perhaps someone will come and sit down with him and hold his blanket on his lap. Eventually a couple more players will come until there is a full team on each side. Each side has a blanket. Support singers or friends and family from each team will come and stand behind the players while the game is in progress and sing the "Peon Songs" as the game is in progress. The songs have meaning and tell a story. They also set the mood for the game.