This is an outstanding solid brass spontoon pipe tomahawk attributed to the Sioux Native American Indians of South Dakota of circa 1870. The piece features a solid brass spontoon kite-shaped flaring blade with no basal processes or spurs, showing a double edge and median ridge running down the center of both sides. The eyelet hole or eye hole of the head is diamond shaped, which has been documented by such authors and scholars as Harold Peterson, John Baldwin, Francis, Hartzler & Knowles, etc. as dating to the 1870 Indian Wars time period. The piece has prominent moldings and a raised “V” shaped chevrons, which flow into the tall, slender vase-like bowl, which also shows a prominent molded ring at the center and base. The haft or handle is solid hardwood and is decorated with extensive hot-file brandings and old solid brass square shank tacks in an obvious pattern. The wood has a nice shiny, deep patina and the head has a rich, mellow, almost green patina from honest age and use. The haft starts as a very angular diamond shape at the eyelet hole and begins to taper down with a slight up curve getting smaller and shows a hewn undercut, which frames the smaller more rounded gripping area with two pierced sections, one which previously would have held a drop or wrist throng and the other that holds the beautiful drop of quilled and beaded hide with fringe. The drop shows an Indian tanned buckskin hide with parfleche rawhide strips and buckskin long frilly fringe. The drop is adorned with unique, larger period correct glass pony trade beads and seed beads in an off blue, greasy yellow, and semi-transparent rose or Cheyenne pink. The center of the drop, which has the parfleche strips, are covered in an iconic square geometric pattern of all porcupine quills quillwork in natural pigment colors of yellow, purple, and (natural) white. The brass tacks up near the head show a long rectangular pattern with winding, almost zig-zagging line that could possibly represent an old clan, tribe, or previous owner’s name, but could also represent a landscape feature (such as a river) or animal (such as a snake). At the pierced holes around the gripping area, there are four (total) “U” shaped tacked designs possibly representing an animal hoof, such as a Buffalo, Elk, or Horse. This is very similar to the example in figure 271, page 133 of Harold L. Peterson’s “American Indian Tomahawks” book from 1965; the example in the book is dated to circa 1860-1880 and has a “classic so-called ‘Minnewauken’ form with the kite-shaped blade almost a diamond…. Slight median ridge running down the blade” (MAI/HF: 22/7292). Another very similar example can also be seen at Cisco’s Gallery in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; it is described as a brass spontoon pipe tomahawk from the ex-collection of Dr. Myers, dating to the Mid-19th Century; it shows the kite-shaped blade being absent of basal processes and shows prominent moldings and diamond shaped eyelet hole with proudly raised chevrons leading to the tall, slender, slightly tapering bowl. This example is listed at $30,000. Provenance: From the ex-collection of Dale Harrison of Ohio and collected at the Santa Fe Indian Artifacts show over 20 years ago. This is a wonderful Indian War era example in scarcely seen solid brass manufacture with wonderful kite-shaped spontoon blade and rich haft, all having an honest patina from age and use. Tomahawk measures overall 24.25” long with an additional 19” long drop that is 2 1/8” wide. The tomahawk head is 12” long by 2.5” wide by 1 3/8” deep.

For a complete representation of condition please review pictures. Some items may have additional images, if so please visit our website directly. It is the buyer’s responsibility to view each image and preview the item to determine condition. Shipping info is clearly stated on LA and our website diretly, please do not use LA messanger for shipping quotes.