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American Indian Triple Batwing Pipe Tomahawk 19th

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:2,500.00 USD Estimated At:6,500.00 - 8,500.00 USD
American Indian Triple Batwing Pipe Tomahawk 19th
The lot features a triple batwing cutout pipe tomahawk from the American Indians of the Plains from the 19th Century. This example shows a heavy large western axe head being blacksmith forged iron with unique short pipe bowl, forged filed moldings and chevrons with three stylized batwing cutouts and three pierced holes (some call the holes “bleeders” but on many examples the holes were inlaid with copper, pewter, lead, etc..). The hardwood haft handle is adorned with clusters of brass trade tacks and holds a later added hide beaded long and frilly Buffalo drop tied on at the pierced hole found just above the smoking tip. Triple batwing tomahawks refer to the three graduating in size cutouts found at the center portion of the blade which resemble bat figures with their wings extended. This beautiful example is very similar to the triple and double batwing examples published in John Baldwin’s, “Indian War Clubs of the American Frontier” as shown on page 71 and 81. The brass tacks adorned on the nice patina’d wood have a variation in size and a mellow patina from age. The Buffalo hide drop shows a tobacco pouch like tapering top to square shape and geometric beadwork with glass trade seed beads of chalk white, black and red finished off with long hand cut hide fringe. Also shown are tow strands of older exotic trade beads in various colors. Provenance: From the ex-collection of Cyrus Eaton in London, England. The head measures 12 inches long and 5 inches long across the bottom of the blade. The piece measures 26 inches in length overall.