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Osage Missouri War Axe Tomahawk by Dunlap & Florer

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:25.00 USD Estimated At:3,000.00 - 5,000.00 USD
Osage Missouri War Axe Tomahawk by Dunlap & Florer
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Offered for sale in this lot is a wonderful Missouri War Axe Tomahawk made by Dunlap & Florer Trading Post at Pawhuska, Oklahoma and sold to local Osage and Pawnee Indians in the region. The piece is said to date to circa 1850-1860’s and is truly a museum quality weapon. The war relic features an iron worked head with weeping heart cut out made by the Dunlap & Florer Trading Post at Pawhuska, Oklahoma. Pawhusha, Oklahoma is the heart of the Osage Nation, and Dunlap & Florer Co. manufactured and sold the heads to the local Osage Indians, who would then decorate their own handles. This is an excellent striking weapon, with a foreboding presence and look and would truly be a great addition to any major private or museum collection. The term "Missouri War Axe" was coined by American Indian weapons collectors to describe this particular style of tomahawk. They were first discovered by Lewis & Clark on their 1804-1805 expedition financed by Thomas Jefferson, which sent them exploring up the upper Missouri River basin. Meriwether Lewis wrote about these weapons and sketched one in his journal, stating that the local Indians were fervently requesting the expedition blacksmith to make additional examples for them. He went as far as to state that it was the only item the Indians were willing to trade corn, grain and other expedition necessities for and that manufacture and trade of additional axes is what solely got the explorers through the winter of 1805. This piece was pictured in the 2009 book "The Mark Francis Collection of American Indian Art" on page 123 figure 194, and in "The Missouri War Axe: War Tomahawk of the Plains and Prairies" (2010) by Mark Francis on page 59 figure 70 and page 70 figure 85. The tomahawk head features a weeping heart punch out and measures 7 1/4 inches in length x 4 inches wide across the bottom of the blade. The long, hard wood haft has old black and green mineral pigment paint and an old leather wrist thong. Total length of the tomahawk is 23 inches. These books are not included in the lot. The tomahawk measures 7.75" x 22".