This colourful figure was located outside a York tobacconist for many years. Since tobacco originated from America a representation of an American Indian was used to indicate the location of such a shop in the days when not all customers could read. The feathers in his headdress and skirt symbolise the tobacco leaves.
I can remember when he used to stand on the pavement holding onto the reins of his horse, who breathed smoke out through it's nostrils! Sadly the horse went missing many years ago. To prevent him meeting the same fate he now stands alone high up on a plinth outside a shop in Low Petergate.
It's an interesting sight. You don't see tobacco store Indians in the States very much anymore. They're thought to be politically incorrect and probably are, as Native Americans haven't been so well treated by the U.S. Government.
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