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Shoshoni Chief Eagle Eye's Bow and Arrows captur

Currency:USD Category:Art Start Price:1,250.00 USD Estimated At:5,000.00 - 7,500.00 USD
Shoshoni Chief Eagle Eye's Bow and Arrows captur
<B>Shoshoni Chief Eagle Eye's Bow and Arrows captured from him in Idaho Territory, 1868</B></I><BR>Circa 1868<BR>Length 34 in. the bow; Length 26 3/4 in. the longest arrow<BR><BR>"This important bow and arrow set of historical significance is a masterpiece of American Indian archery. It is a composite bow of wood, sinew backed and sealed with pitch and/or animal tallow, with rawhide wrappings at its grip area concealing bird quills and exhibiting good age and manufacture. This perfectly tillered bow, the relationship and balance of each bow limb to pull uniformly, is a perfect example of the type used in the northwestern Plains and eastern Plateau. Its pull weight would be estimated to be about 40 pounds. Only a few similar examples exist, some made from elk antler are even more rare...The bow retains its original multi-strand, twisted sinew string, again demonstrating a high degree of skill in its making.<BR>"Of the thousands of arrows this author has seen, these arrows represent the finest example of a 'Plains' type self-arrow, that is, of one-piece construction. They average 25 inches in length and the 1/4 inches diameter midsection tapers gracefully to both the distal and proximal end, which finishes in a perfectly expanding nock. Two straight shallow grooves representing 'spirit lines' are evident on each arrow. These arrows are carefully hand-hewn to be of the correct spine, meaning, matched to the bow's weight for perfect cast. Few aboriginal arrows exhibit such care in manufacture. The well-fitted points are of native manufacture, and the short cropped fletching would give uniform and speedy flight. There is no doubt this matched set represents one of the best examples of the American Indian bowyer's craft and would be a very formidable weapon in the hands of a warrior on horseback."1<BR>The words "Eagle Eye Chief of WeiserSnake Indians, August, 1868" and "Presented to Col. Sinc