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Amazing Mid-19th Missouri War Axe Tomahawk - Osage

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:2,500.00 USD Estimated At:5,000.00 - 7,000.00 USD
Amazing Mid-19th Missouri War Axe Tomahawk - Osage
This is an amazing early Missouri War Axe tomahawk attributed to the Osage Indians in Oklahoma during the mid-19th Century. This pattern of Missouri War Axe head has been documented to have been made by Dunlap & Florer Trading at Pawhuska, Oklahoma in the circa 1850-1860’s time period, being traded and sold to local Osage and Pawnee Indians in the region. There are numerous photographs of Osage and Pawnee Indians holding these war tomahawks in publications by Baldwin, Peterson amongst others like Hartzler & Knowles and Francis.

The piece exhibits an iron hand-blacksmith forged head that measures 7-1/2 inches in length by 4-1/4 inches wide across the bottom of the blade. There is a weeping heart punch cut out at the center of the blade. There is an old wooden haft handle that is adorned with brass metal tacks and a long fringe-cut drop off the bottom end. The gripping area has a wrap of muslin trade clothe wrapping secured with hide glue or sap. The head appears to be an original mid-19th-century example with nice old, but potentially later added handle and drop. Beautiful work of art. Provenance: Ted Levy collection, Santa Rosa, California. Total length of 18-inches. The fringe hangs an additional 16-inches.